Home / Health / Govt Saves ₹200 Cr: CT/MRI Scan Overuse Revealed
Govt Saves ₹200 Cr: CT/MRI Scan Overuse Revealed
20 Feb
Summary
- Government saved over ₹200 crore in 1.5 years due to regulated scans.
- A private firm halted services citing ₹143 crore in unpaid dues.
- Health Minister stated there was 'overuse' of scans previously.
The introduction of a regulatory mechanism in government hospitals has resulted in significant savings, with Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao announcing over ₹200 crore saved in the last 1.5 years on CT and MRI scans. This efficiency improvement followed the cessation of services by Krsnaa Diagnostics Ltd., which had been operating diagnostic services under a public-private-partnership (PPP) model since 2017.
The private firm halted CT and MRI services from February 18, citing non-payment of dues amounting to approximately ₹143 crore plus annual escalations since 2019. The Minister stated that the government implemented checks and verification processes, leading to a considerable reduction in the volume of billed scans, suggesting prior overuse.
Mr. Rao assured that alternative arrangements are being made for affected services and that new tenders have been floated for procuring diagnostic equipment. He also addressed criticism regarding the department's financial stability, asserting that all schemes are being funded despite potential delays in central government funds.
