The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched three new diagnostic facilities at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, with Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda inaugurating them. The facilities include a Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics, along with PET-CT and SPECT-CT imaging services in the Department of Nuclear Medicine. These additions are intended to expand specialised healthcare services available to patients at affordable rates.
What has been set up
The Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics combines Video Urodynamics with Near Infrared Spectroscopy for brain mapping, a combination being used for the first time in India. This technology allows doctors to assess how the brain responds during bladder filling and emptying, helping them identify whether a urinary disorder originates in the bladder, nervous system or both. The centre is projected to serve roughly 5,000 patients each year and will be particularly useful for complex cases linked to neurological conditions.
The PET-CT facility supports cancer diagnosis, staging and treatment planning. It can also assist in managing cases across medical oncology, radiation oncology, blood disorders, urology, kidney disease and paediatric cancer. The SPECT-CT facility strengthens diagnostic capabilities for heart, kidney, hormone-related, bone and digestive system conditions. Together, the nuclear medicine facilities are expected to treat 600 to 700 patients annually.
Both facilities will operate at affordable cost and will support training for postgraduate medical students alongside routine patient care.
What this means for you
If you have complex bladder or urological symptoms, particularly those linked to neurological issues, this centre offers a diagnostic option in Delhi that was not previously available in India. For cancer patients and those with cardiac, kidney or endocrine disorders requiring advanced imaging, these new PET-CT and SPECT-CT services provide diagnostic options within a government hospital setting at lower cost than private alternatives. The facilities are open to all patients, including those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.