A newly acquired computed tomography (CT) scan machine was inaugurated at the Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center (GABMMC) in Tondo, Manila on Wednesday.

The city government of Manila, headed by Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, together with GABMMC Director Dr. Ted Martin, unveiled the new GE Revolution EVO 128-Slice CT scan machine.

During the inauguration, Domagoso said this was part of his long-term plan to further improve the health services in the city’s district hospitals where most of the indigent residents normally go for medical attention.

“This is a very important machine for the hospital because many of the patients here do not have money to pay for CT scans. Usually, only those who have money can afford CT scans, but then CT scans are needed for proper diagnostics. This can increase the probability of patients surviving even in critical situations,” he said.

According to medical website webmd.com, a CT scan allows doctors to see inside a person’s body. It uses a combination of X-rays and a computer to create pictures of organs, bones, and other tissues.

A CT scan shows more detail than a regular X-ray and can scan any part of the body.

The new CT scan machine is expected to boost the GABMMC’s capacity to provide free specialized health services to underserved patients.

Domagoso said CT scan machines are heavily used, especially during the pandemic as CT scans were done to assess the lung condition of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patients.

Martin said the 128-Slice CT scan machine given to them is the most advanced among all other CT scan machines in other district hospitals in Manila.

“This machine can easily identify such brain conditions as stroke, aneurysm, brain tumor, meningitis, encephalitis, Covid-related brain infection. Pati heart attack, puwede n’ya malaman agad kung aatakihin ka. Kaya rin ma-detect nang maaga ang lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, intestinal cancer, at lahat ng klase ng bukol sa tiyan (Even a possible heart attack could be detected by this machine. It can also detect early other diseases, such as lung, liver, stomach, and intestinal cancer, and all kinds of tumors in the stomach),” he said.

Meanwhile, the website medicalpinal.com said the cost of a CT scan in the country depends on which body part needs to be scanned; if the patient needs a plain CT scan or with contrast, which is more expensive; the number of slices needed for the scan; and whether the hospital is public or private.

The website further stated that the average CT scan price in the Philippines ranges from PHP4,000 to PHP10,000.

Domagoso said other plans to improve health services in Manila include the acquisition of more intensive care unit equipment for its district hospitals. (PNA)