New Delhi: Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Thursday inaugurated the Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics in the Department of Urology and new PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.
During his visit, Nadda also inspected the Heart Command Centre and Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital and reviewed the services and activities being carried out at the facilities.
Nadda Reviews Safdarjung Hospital Projects and Services
During a detailed review of the hospital’s functioning and ongoing projects, Nadda emphasised the need for regular reviews and periodic inspections of projects in the pipeline.
He stressed that practical and achievable timelines should be established for projects to ensure their timely completion and implementation.
Nadda also appreciated the distinct identity and reputation that Safdarjung Hospital has developed over the years, noting that the institution has established its own unique standing in the healthcare sector.
Advanced Bladder Diagnostics Centre Introduced
The newly established Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics has been equipped with Video Urodynamics (VUDS) integrated with Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS).
The facility will enable detailed assessment of bladder function and assist in diagnosing urinary bladder disorders, including complex conditions associated with neurological disorders.
A key feature of the centre is the integration of VUDS with brain mapping through NIRS, an approach being attempted for the first time in India.
The technology enables assessment of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation during bladder filling and emptying. This may help clinicians determine whether a bladder disorder is primarily bladder-related, neurological in origin or involves a combination of both.
The centre is expected to cater to approximately 5,000 patients annually, strengthening access to specialised urological diagnostic services at Safdarjung Hospital.
PET-CT Facility to Strengthen Cancer and Specialised Care
The newly installed PET-CT facility under the Department of Nuclear Medicine will enhance diagnostic capabilities across several specialised areas, including cancer care, cardiology, neurology, renal diseases and endocrinology.
The facility will support cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment planning and follow-up, while also providing advanced imaging for specialised therapies.
It will further facilitate multidisciplinary clinical management involving Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Hematology, Urology, Nephrology and Pediatric Oncology.
SPECT-CT to Support Cardiac, Renal and Other Diagnoses
The SPECT-CT facility will strengthen diagnostic services for cardiac, renal, endocrine, orthopaedic and gastrointestinal conditions.
The advanced imaging facility is expected to support comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and assist clinicians in determining appropriate treatment and clinical management.
The newly expanded Nuclear Medicine services are expected to benefit approximately 600–700 patients annually and will be offered at an affordable cost.
Facilities to Support Patient Care and Medical Education
The addition of the Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics, PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities further strengthens specialised healthcare infrastructure at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital.
The facilities are expected to support comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, enable timely treatment planning and strengthen multidisciplinary patient care.
The new infrastructure will also contribute to postgraduate education and training while improving access to specialised diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients, including those from economically disadvantaged sections of society.
Senior Health Ministry Officials Attend Programme
The inauguration and review programme was attended by Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Dr Kavita Rani Sharma, Director, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital; Dr Charu Bamba, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital; and Chitra, Joint Secretary (Hospital), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and faculty members of VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital were also present.
Important Highlights
- JP Nadda inaugurated the Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital.
- The bladder centre combines Video Urodynamics with Near Infrared Spectroscopy for advanced bladder assessment.
- VUDS integrated with NIRS for brain mapping is being attempted for the first time in India.
- The centre is expected to cater to approximately 5,000 patients annually.
- New PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities will strengthen specialised diagnostic services across oncology, cardiology, neurology, renal and other fields.
- The advanced Nuclear Medicine services are expected to benefit approximately 600–700 patients annually at an affordable cost.