The court affirmed that operational efficiency in healthcare, including equipment procurement and patient management, is crucial for public health welfare.

ORDER :

1. This matter is taken up through Hybrid arrangement (video conferencing/physical mode).

S.C.B. MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL PROBLEMS

PROCUREMENT OF 128 SLICE CT SCAN MACHINE FOR RADIODIAGNOSIS DEPARTMENT, SCBMCH, CUTTACK:

As per the order no.246 dated 19.06.2025, the Superintendent, SCBMCH, Cuttack was asked to file an affidavit regarding the status of procurement and operation of two numbers of 128 Slice CT Scan machines.

There is no dispute that this is a type of computed tomography (CT) imaging machine that uses 128 detectors to capture multiple cross-sectional images (slices) of the body in a single rotation. This technology allows for faster scanning times and creation of high-resolutions detailed 3D images, which can improve diagnostic accuracy.

Prof (Dr.) Goutam Kumar Satpathy, Medical Superintendent I/c, SCBMCH, Cuttack so also Prof (Dr.) Pooja Mishra, HoD, Radiology, SCBMCH, Cuttack is present through virtual mode.

Prof (Dr.) Goutam Kumar Satpathy, Medical Superintendent I/c, SCBMCH, Cuttack has filed an affidavit dated 13.08.2025, wherein it is stated as follows:

“3. That, it is humbly submitted that the 128 slice CT Scan Machine for Radio diagnosis Department, SCBMCH, Cuttack has become functional since 11th of August 2025 and is being utilized for the patient care. The Prof & HoD, Radio-Diagnosis, SCBMCH, Cuttack has communicated the data of patients availed the services since the functionalization of the machine which is enumerated here under:

Learned counsel appearing for the Odisha State Medical Corporation Ltd. (hereafter "OSMCL") placed on record the status of procurement of equipment obtained from GM Operations (Equipment), OSMCL, which reads as follows:

“(i) Against the PO issued by OSMCL for 02 nos. of 128 SLICE CT SCAN MACHINE, 01 no. of 128 SLICE CT SCAN MACHINE has already been installed at SCBMCH, Cuttack on 05.08.2025.

(ii) The rest one no. of 128 SLICE CT SCAN MACHINE is ready for delivery at SCBMCH, Cuttack, however site has not been handed over for the same.”

Regarding the site issue for installing one more 128 Slice CT Scan Machine, when the response of the Superintendent, SCBMCH was sought for, he stated that at present, three CT machines are functional at three different locations i.e. two new machines (CT Scan) installed at Regional Diagnostic Centre in front of Trauma Casualty (with CCTV cameras) and one old machine (PPP) installed at Radiology Department near Ranihat Gate (with CCTV cameras). He further stated that one of the two new CT Scan machines was procured through OSMCL and the other machine was provided by GRIDCO pursuant to their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy. The third (old) CT Scan machine is run by PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode.

So far as the running of CT machine in PPP mode is concerned, it is stated that though the period of agreement has expired, the same has been extended for a further period of one year.

Since there is no clarity as to why the PPP mode has been extended when there is another machine, which is ready for installation as stated in the instruction submitted to this Court by the learned counsel appearing for OSMCL, let an affidavit clarifying the same be filed by the OSMCL as well as the Superintendent I/c, SCBMCH, Cuttack.

The Superintendent, SCBMCH, Cuttack shall also indicate in the affidavit as to whether there is any possibility of providing a site for installation of the additional machine, keeping in view the increasing demand of the patients as this Court is informed that such facility is also availed by the patients of City Hospital, Cuttack and Sishu Bhawan, Cuttack.

So far as installation of CCTV cameras is concerned, it is brought to the notice of this Court that at all the sites where CT Scan machines are installe