NAGPUR’S Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) is all set to become the first in the State to house a Nuclear Medicine Department. One may usually find this department in private set-ups. GMCH will be the first Government-run entity where this important department has occupied space. The department is ready with infrastructure. The process for appointment of staff too has been completed. Now, it is awaiting its official inauguration. The Nuclear Medicine Department will function at the ground floor of Super Specialty Hospital (SSH), GMCH. The hospital had to wait for over seven years to get this department. In the recent past, Dr Raj Gajbhiye, Dean, GMCH, followed up this issue with the Government and finally got it approved. Deputy Chief Minister and Guardian Minister of Nagpur district Devendra Fadnavis took a lead in this matter and sanctioned over Rs 9.5 crore from the District Planning Committee funds.

 

Dr Gajbhiye told ‘The Hitavada’, “This department will change the thereapeutic and diagnostic modalities. There will be a marked improvement in healthcare treatment in GMCH.There was a time when patients have to go to Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bengaluru etc. Now we have all treatment facilities in Nagpur. As a Dean I am feeling very happy for this particular development.” Dr Gajbhiye pointed out, “The nuclear medicine department will bring a revolutionary change to the GMCH. The patients suffering from heart and cancer ailments along with problems of endocrinology, thyroid, kidney, neuro will be the major beneficiaries. We have developed an infrastructure while the independent staff and other manpower has been outsourced. The agency has taken all responsibility.

 

Once the department is inaugurated, the healthcare scenario of Central India will be changed.” Explaining about Nuclear Medicine, Dr Gajbhiye said, “Specially designed cameras will create images of the inside of the body. These images can help doctors see how organs or tissue are functioning, or to target and destroy damaged or diseased organs or tissue. Nuclear medicine scans can be used to diagnose tumors, infections, organ enlargement, blood circulation, heart problems, brain problems, breast cancer etc. It is useful in treating diseases like cancer. Nuclear Medicine can notice the spread of this dreaded disease after which doctors can plan treatment modalities. The two important imaging modalities Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT ) and Positron EmissionTomography (PET) scans are parts of Nuclear Medicine.”