Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma. Subramanian commissioned a ₹12 crore PET CT scan equipment at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on November 22, boosting cancer care in western districts under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
Coimbatore: In a significant boost to cancer care in the western districts of Tamil Nadu, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian inaugurated a state-of-the-art PET CT (Positron Emission Tomography and Computed Tomography) scan equipment at the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on November 22. The equipment, costing ₹12 crore, is part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project aimed at enhancing cancer treatment facilities in the region.
The new PET CT scan facility at CMCH marks a major advancement in cancer care for the western part of the state. Prior to this, such facilities were only available at government hospitals in Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, and Thanjavur. Minister Subramanian also announced that a similar equipment would be commissioned at the Salem Government Hospital later this month.
Highlighting the cost-effectiveness of the new facility, the Health Minister stated that the PET CT scan procedure, which typically costs around ₹20,000 in private hospitals, would be available at CMCH for ₹6,500 to ₹11,000. This reduced cost will be covered under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, making advanced cancer diagnostics more accessible to the public.
The Minister emphasized Tamil Nadu's leading position in cancer treatment and research. He mentioned the recent installation of an advanced robotic surgery centre with equipment worth ₹34.60 crore at the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Omandurar. Additionally, a Centre of Excellence exclusively for cancer diseases is being established at the Government Arignar Anna Memorial Cancer Hospital in Karapettai, Kancheepuram, at a cost of ₹220 crore.
During the event, Minister Subramanian also launched an Optical Coherence Tomography equipment for cardiac catheterisation, valued at ₹1.5 crore, at CMCH. Furthermore, he inaugurated additional facilities at government hospitals in Mettupalayam and Somanur, reinforcing the state's commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure across the region.
This initiative is expected to significantly improve cancer diagnosis and treatment capabilities in Coimbatore and surrounding areas, bringing advanced medical technology closer to the people and reducing the need for patients to travel to distant cities for such specialized care.