Telangana to Introduce Free MRI Services in Government Hospitals Under PPP Model

The Telangana government has decided to introduce Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) services in government hospitals through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to improve access to advanced diagnostic facilities. Mahbubnagar Government General Hospital (GGH) will be the first institution to implement the initiative as a pilot project.

Health Minister Damodar Rajanarsimha directed senior health department officials to prepare an action plan for the phased rollout during a review meeting held at the Telangana Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TGMSIDC) office on October 30, 2026.

The minister clarified that MRI scans will continue to be provided free of cost to patients referred by doctors at government hospitals, even under the proposed PPP arrangement. Private partners will be involved in operating and maintaining MRI equipment, while contractual provisions will be designed to protect patients from charges for these services.

According to health department officials, adopting the PPP model could reduce government expenditure by approximately 20% compared with the existing system. The arrangement is also expected to address challenges associated with purchasing, maintaining and repairing MRI machines, which can lead to interruptions in diagnostic services.

Currently, MRI facilities are available at selected government institutions, including Gandhi Hospital, Osmania General Hospital, NIMS, TIMS and MNJ Cancer Hospital in Hyderabad, as well as MGM Hospital in Warangal, RIMS Adilabad and Government General Hospital in Bhupalpally. Several district headquarters, including Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda, lack MRI facilities in their government hospitals.

A team of doctors and health department officials studied MRI service management models in other states, including Tamil Nadu, and submitted a report on their financial and operational benefits. The government plans to use the findings to develop the proposed arrangement and expand MRI services across government general hospitals in Telangana within two years.

The minister also instructed officials to ensure that agreements with private partners clearly define responsibilities for equipment maintenance, uninterrupted scanning services, service quality and timely delivery of scan reports. The rollout timeline and detailed implementation arrangements are yet to be finalised

Source: https://news.docthub.com/telangana-to-introduce-free-mri-services-in-government-hospitals-under-ppp-model-N2676