X-ray: Medicine enters more transparent window of imaging

PACS facilitates digital communication, storing, processing and viewing of images and image-related information at the click of a button.

However, the high cost of digitisation in the medical industry is a major inhibiting factor that has especially affected public hospitals relying on government funding.

Unfortunately, the health sector receives about six per cent of the total national budget that can not accommodate acquiring new medical technology due to priority areas such as administration costs and medical supplies.

For instance, for Aga Khan to acquire PACS, the budget is estimated at Sh37 million ($0.5 million) on the lower side.

KNH is looking at Sh1.2 billion to digitise its entire operations.

In this year’s budget, KNH received Sh500 million, which has already been channelled to construction of a burns unit.

“PACS is very cost-effective since one does not have to print the images, therefore, patients take less time to receive results. It also saves on storage,” said Dr Jotham Micheni, KNH chief executive officer.

For instance, one MRI film can cost about Sh1,000.

However, saving it on a disc is only about Sh100.

KNH is also set to move to PACS next year.

It also saves time for both the patient and the radiographer due to instant access of historic images electronically stored in the system.

Already the national referral like many other private hospitals such as Nairobi, Karen and Aga Khan, is operating on multi-slice CT scanner acquired two year ago.

This means extraordinary fineness of detail in imaging can be achieved, enhancing precise diagnosis.

It also reduces repeat rate of imaging since it is to a large extent accurate, consequently lowering radiation dosage.

Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital is set to acquire its first digital CT scanner in two weeks time, which will enable it to diagnose a wide variety of conditions faster.