Jharkhand’s Gumla district hospital gets first CT scan machine

Gumla, March 15: In its consistent efforts to introduce innovative healthcare facilities in remote and rural corners, Tata Steel Foundation has recently enabled modern medical equipment in the district hospital of Gumla district of Jharkhand. Through this collaboration between the district administration and Tata Steel Foundation, CT scan and x-ray machines have been made available at the district hospital for the first time, where people had to travel to Ranchi to get a CT scan done at affordable rates earlier. 

The inauguration ceremony for the CT scan machine at Sadar Hospital, Gumla, took place on March 15, 2024. Bhushan Tirkey, MLA, inaugurated the CT scan site, joined by Karn Satyarthi, Deputy Commissioner, Gumla, and Anuj Bhatnagar, Head, Public Health at Tata Steel Foundation.

The installation of the CT scan machine is particularly significant as it is the first-of-its-kind in the entire district. This advanced equipment will enhance diagnostic capabilities, enabling faster and more accurate diagnoses for the local population. Patients will no longer need to travel long distances for CT scans, as the facility is now available locally. This is aligned to Tata Steel Foundation’s efforts in driving innovative healthcare across Jharkhand, where three new Prasuti Pratikshalays (birth-waiting homes) were inaugurated to help expecting mothers and newborns, enrolled under MANSI (Maternal and Neonatal Survival Initiative).

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Bhatnagar shared: “The collaboration with other healthcare practitioners across the state have helped us take innovation to the remotest corners of Jharkhand. Our implementations are based on the observations from the baseline survey conducted by our internal teams to address the challenges in an aspirational district such as Gumla. Collaborations of this kind also help us to understand the need emerging out of rural corners and how we can come together to address them.”

The new CT scan machine, along with the fixed and portable x-ray machines, will not only improve patient care, but also enhance the hospital’s ability to handle complex medical cases. The Foundation’s contribution is expected to have a lasting impact on the healthcare landscape of Gumla District, ensuring better health outcomes for its nearly 12 lakh residents, living across 12 blocks.