NIMS cuts scanning rates

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, MARCH 7. The Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) has substantially reduced its tariff for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Spiral CT Scan keeping in line with the recent cut in rates announced by the hospital industry.

An MRI high field (plain) will cost the patient Rs.3,000 on holidays and Sundays and Rs.4,000 on other days and the Spiral CT (Brain-Plain) Rs.1,000 and Rs.1,500 respectively. The new tariff will take effect from March 10.

The NIMS Director, Dr. K. Subba Rao, told reporters here on Wednesday, the decision had been taken to provide cheaper diagnostic facilities to the patients. He said the topic of high cost of diagnostic procedures had been highlighted by the medical profession as well as the media following which a steering committee had been constituted with himself as Chairman to look into irregularities in the fees collected from patients.

In view of the above discussions, the NIMS had decided to reduce the tariff for certain imaging procedures and use the hi-tech equipment more efficiently and for longer hours. The MRI and Spiral CT would work 24 hours even on holidays and Sundays.

Dr. Rao said the cut in tariff could be described as a `revolution' in which the patient would benefit rather than a price war between corporate hospitals. This issue had been discussed in-depth at meetings between representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), A.P. Private Nursing Homes and Hospitals Association (APNA), A.P. Government Doctors Association (APGDA), Superspecialities Hospitals Association and the Diagnostic Centres Association.

The mandate of the Steering Committee was to come out with a solution to the fierce competition among hospitals by encouraging ethical practices and transparency. The hospitals would be required to display the tariff applicable for various services and the additional charges if there are medical complications.

It was also proposed that all hospitals should prominently display a board stating that they would strictly abide by medical ethics. The Steering Committee will meet again to finalise its recommendations, Dr. Rao said.

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