The University
“The tender will be out soon. It will be an open tender and will be out by end of this month,” said the hospital’s deputy director for clinical services, Jamiyah Hassan.
She said the specifications have been signed and the criteria is simple.
“We want the best in the market to serve a long-term interest,” she said when contacted by The Malay Mail yesterday.
According to Jamiyah, it will take five to six months to determine the bidder who will be awarded the tender.
“It will start from the date the tender opens until it is approved. Normally, it will take about 150 days for it to be completed,” said Jamiyah, adding that the RM40 million Government-funded investment will include everything from the PET-CT machine, Cyclotron and also a new building to store the equipment.
Commenting on the cost for patients, Jamiyah said the private sector charges RM6,000 per scan but she is confident that the hospital will charge a lower rate.
Consultant radiologist at the hospital Basri J.J. Abdullah explained that the PET-CT scan can be used to detect cancer.
“It also plays a role in some neurological diseases and probably even heart diseases,” said Basri.
He said the cost, which may be RM6,000, should not be a deterrent for patients to try the treatment.
“It may be a big amount to pay upfront but think of the savings if the disease is detected earlier,” said Basri.
He said with the availability of the PET-CT scan, diseases can be detected easier and faster.
Basically, PET is a diagnostic examination that involves the acquisition of physiologic images based on the detection of radiation from the emission of positrons.
Positrons are tiny particles emitted from a radioactive substance administered into the patient’s body.
The subsequent images of the human body developed with this technique are used to detect the different types of diseases.
Source from MalayMail 8 Feb 2007
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