The State Government on Tuesday launched CT scan service to patients free of cost at the Capital Hospital here.

With the joint initiative by the Health & Family Welfare Department and the Spandan Diagnostic Private limited, a 16-slice CT Scanner machine has been installed at an expenditure of Rs 2 crore at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology building of the state-run Capital Hospital.

One Harapriya Behera from Puri district was the first patient to undergo CT scan on the first day. She obtained the report within 30 minutes of the test.

There was a CT scan machine installed earlier at the hospital, but only brain scanning was conducted through it. With the installation of the new machine, varieties of advanced scanning including 3D, SSD, MPVR, bronchoscopy and colonoscopy would be freely provided to patients. While the normal scan report would be available within six hours and, the patient can get the report within one or two hours in case of emergency.

While the brain scanning and entire body scanning cost around Rs 2,000 and Rs 6,000 respectively in private clinics and diagnostic centres, all kinds of scanning would be available here free of cost, said Capital Hospital Director Dr Manoranjan Dash.

The State Government would spend Rs 1,199 per patient for scanning at the hospital, said Capital Hospital Manager Mohit Kumar.

The machine that would be completely managed by the Spandan Diagnostic would provide 24-hour service. Four technicians and three others have been appointed to operate the CT scanner.