Supplier Selected for New MRIs
Nova Scotians in need of an MRI will have improved access with the purchase of six new top-of-the-line machines -- one more than originally planned.
The Department of Health announced today, Nov. 24, it has accepted advice from the provincial steering committee to purchase the diagnostic units from General Electric Canada's Healthcare business, GE Healthcare. In doing so, Nova Scotia is able to purchase a sixth MRI scanner within the same funding allocation.
"Department staff worked through the government's competitive process alongside Nova Scotia's specialists to ensure we purchase high-quality technology at an affordable cost," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac. "We are yet another step closer to providing better diagnostic services and care across the province."
New units will be installed in Kentville, New Glasgow, Yarmouth, and Antigonish once renovations, human resource plans, and community funding are in place. The remaining two units will replace existing MRIs at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax.
"We take pride in helping our customers achieve their goals," said Joe Sardi, general manager of GE Healthcare in Canada. "This decision will bring both a new level of technological leadership and enhanced long-term service support excellence to the many communities in Nova Scotia."
The province set aside up to $12.5 million for this purchase, which was made possible through the 2004 First Ministers Meeting Accord funding for medical equipment. Each district health authority receiving equipment will also contribute about $750,000 toward its MRI purchase and installation.
The provincial steering committee has representatives from most of the province's nine health districts, the IWK Health Centre, and the Department of Health. The group has focused on creating consistency in diagnostic services, technology, training and referral processes across the province.
GE Healthcare's broad range of products and services enable healthcare providers to better diagnose and treat cancer, heart disease, neurological diseases, and other conditions earlier. GE Healthcare's vision for the future is to enable a new "early health" model of care focused on earlier diagnosis, pre-symptomatic disease detection and disease prevention.
Headquartered in the United Kingdom, GE Healthcare is a $15- billion unit of General Electric Company. Worldwide, GE Healthcare employs more than 43,000 people committed to serving health-care professionals and their patients in more than 100 countries. For more information about GE Healthcare, see the company's website at www.gehealthcare.com .