PET scan for Thiruvananthapuram medical college stuck in fund row

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Though finance minister K. M. Mani had announced the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan for Thiruvananthapuram medical college’s nuclear medicine department in the previous budget, it still remains merely on paper. Though the amount alloted for the machine went down from Rs 14 crore to Rs 10 crore, the finance department said that no Plan Funds were available.

However, finance minister  K.M. Mani said that the contingency funds could be mobilised under the head of ‘new service provider’.

But sources at the Thiruvananthapuram medical college told DC that the additional chief secretary (finance) Dr. K.M. Abraham was insisting on using Plan Funds for the same.

PET scan helps to detect the early onset of disease, especially cancer before it is evident on other imaging tests. A majority of private hospitals in the state charge Rs 25, 000 and above for a PET scan.

Thiruvananthapuram medical college officials said that if the equipment was available at the hospital, it would benefit patients because PET scans would  be made  available to them at affordable rates.

“It was with great expectations that we welcomed the finance minister’s budget speech. But unfortunately the PET scan is yet to materialise. This despite the fact that the finance minister had announced that through additional fund authorisation under contingency funds, it could be implemented. But due to redtapism, it is being unduly delayed,” said a top official of the medical college.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was supposed to take up the issue before the Cabinet on Wednesday but it could not be discussed.

The CM told DC that since the decision was already taken earlier, the PET scan would definitely be set up. When DC got in touch with Dr Abraham, he said the ball was in the health department’s court.

The health minister’s office however, informed DC that they were yet to get the file approved from the finance department. But a top official at the health minister’s office confirmed that he believed that the finance department had agreed to sanction the funds.

“We have sought for additional funds from the finance department,” a top official at the health minister’s office said.