AGARTALA, May 3 (TIWN): For the first time the MRI service has been launched in Tripura at GB Hospital.On Tuesday Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and Health Minister jointly inaugurated the MRI service at 5pm.

Reportedly, Health Minister Badal Choudhury also inaugurated ambulances on GBP premises.

Gobind Ballav Pant Hospital (GBP Hospital), which was built on 14th October, 1961 has received the MRI for the first time in its history.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a test that uses a magnetic field, pulses of radio wave energy and a computer system to provide pictures of organs and structures inside the body.

In many cases, an MRI provides information that cannot be obtained from an X-ray, ultrasound or CT scan.

Alongwith MRI,  30 ambulances were also inaugurated today with central fundings.

Presently at Hospital the problem of bed shortage still reels and now for MRI service skilled employees needed.

Many pending works of GBP and AGMC are still to be taken up, which need to be completed.

The concerned department is expecting, the number of beds for patient will be increased to 791 by March, 2017.

The department is also planning to extend the incumbent specialty block in GBP hospital. After the completion of extension work, further the number of beds will be increased to 1000.

To make the Cancer Hospital as complete hospital with all kind of facilities, a seven-storey building will be constructed by the August, 2016. A total of Rs. 40 crores has been estimated for the establishment of this building.

However after MRI machine's arrival, Tripura yet to see what kind of MRI technicians Govt hire and use for service.

Frequent power cuts, lack of discipline in runnning health dept signals that MRI facility might meet the fate of other hitech equipments in Health Dept.