Nagpur: The Gangadharrao Fadnavis Memorial Diagnostic Centre in Nagpur will begin operations this week, offering MRI scans at around Rs 2,100 and CT scans at Rs 900 — significantly lower than prevailing market rates, in a push to make diagnostics more affordable in central India.The facility, billed as the region’s largest diagnostic centre, will be inaugurated on Sunday by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in the presence of Union minister Nitin Gadkari, CM Devendra Fadnavis, and other public representatives.Developed over two years following its foundation ceremony led by then chief minister Eknath Shinde, the centre is designed as a comprehensive, single-location diagnostic hub equipped with advanced technology. It features a 3 Tesla MRI machine, a 124-slice CT scanner, two sonography units, 25 dialysis machines, X-ray services, and a full-scale pathology laboratory.Sandip Joshi, a key figure behind the project, said the facility addresses both affordability and access. “Patients often face long waiting times for diagnostic tests. Here, turnaround time will be significantly faster,” he said.The pricing structure aims to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare costs, with sonography at nearly 25% below market rates, X-rays at around Rs 200, and dialysis at approximately Rs 1,600 per session. Dialysis will be free for eligible beneficiaries under schemes such as the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana.The centre includes patient support systems such as dedicated help desks and assistance staff, along with five isolated dialysis beds for infection control. Trial runs have been completed, and approval under the Central Government Health Scheme is expected within a month, further widening access.
