The health department has been learnt to have flouted the norms to award tenders to a company which is supplying the CT medium in packing of 20 ml to the hospitals causing financial loss to the department in the process.
The health department had floated norms for purchase of contrast medium used for Computer-assisted Tomography (CT) scans in the month of October. In the tender it was clearly mentioned that the medium should be supplied in vials of 10 ml and 50 ml. However, Unijules life Sciences limited which was given the tender is supplying the contrast medium in the vials of 20 ml.
The contrast medium is injected in the patients of CT scan as it helps to improve the visibility of the internal body structures. When an agent improves visibility of an area, it is called “contrast enhancing” in the field of radiology.
The radiology experts inform that 50 ml of Contrast medium is required for CT of brain while 100 ml is needed for whole body CT.
In the hospital like associated hospital of Doon Medical College here, a big consignment of 500 vials of 20 ml has reached. The radiologists say that vial of contrast medium has to be used instantly once it is opened. “Three vials of 20 ml are needed to be opened for CT of brain but only 50 ml is needed due to which half vial is wasted every time,’’ said one of CT machine operator. The packing of 20 ml is also costing Rs200 while 50 ml vial costs only Rs425. Calculation reveals that the cash-strapped State health department is spending about Rs600 on each CT brain case now instead of Rs425 by purchasing 50 ml vial.