MRI, CT scanners coming for Manila public hospitals

The Manila city government has purchased a P130-million MRI or magnetic resonance imaging scanner for Ospital ng Maynila. The MRI scanner is coming from the United States and is scheduled to be installed in March next year, Mayor Joseph Estrada said in a recent press briefing on the state of the city’s health services. Patients who are residents of Manila may use the equipment for free while nonresidents will be charged around P7,000 to P11,000, the mayor said. Next month, a CT scanner system and GE Compax Digital 40 X-ray machines donated by US-based World Medical Relief (WMR) will be installed at Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, according to Councilor Bernie Ang, who is also the Philippine coordinator for WMR. City Hall currently runs four more hospitals: Ospital ng Tondo, Gat. Andres Bonifacio Memorial Medical Center, Sampaloc Hospital and Sta. Ana Hospital. Jodee A. Agoncillo