Govt notifies rates for PET scans in Govt-run hospitals

Srinagar, Nov 22: The J&K Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department Friday fixed the user charges for PET Scan facility and CBCT machines in all government hospitals and institutes functioning under it (department), across the Union Territory, excluding SKIMS.As per fixed user charges, a PET scan-whole body will cost Rs 10,000 per test while for a PET scan cardiac metabolism investigation, the rate per test will be Rs 4000.Similarly, for PET guided biopsy; PET scan review from outside and CBCT machine charge, the user charges have been fixed at the rate of Rs 1200, Rs 600 and Rs 1200 respectively.A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scan is an imaging test to detect early signs of cancer and other diseases while a Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) machine is used by dental professionals for capturing data using a cone-shaped X-ray beam.Secretary H&ME Department, Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, while sanctioning the fixation of user charges in respect of nuclear medicine investigations or tests to be carried out in hospitals and institutes, however, has directed the Principal Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu and the Principal Government Dental College (GDC), Jammu to submit a detailed proposal and guidelines regarding utilisation of these charges.Principal GMC, Jammu and the Principal Government Dental College, Jammu shall submit a detailed proposal and guidelines regarding utilisation of user charges collected on account of these tests or investigations to seek prior concurrence of the Finance Department, before the approval is accorded by the competent authority,” Shah has instructed.