Civil Lines, New Delhi — Tirath Ram Shah Charitable Hospital (TRSCH) has taken a significant step forward in its diagnostic capability with the installation of a new Siemens 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system and the upgradation of its Computed Tomography facility to a Siemens 128-slice CT scanner. Together, these two installations represent one of the most substantial investments in radiology infrastructure in the hospital's recent history, and they place TRSCH among the better-equipped hospitals in the National Capital Region.
For an institution that has served the people of Delhi for decades on the principle that quality healthcare must never be a privilege of the few, this upgrade is not merely a technological milestone. It is a renewal of a promise.
A New Standard in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The newly commissioned Siemens 1.5 Tesla MRI brings a substantial improvement in image quality, scan speed and patient comfort. High field strength combined with modern coil technology delivers a markedly better signal-to-noise ratio, which translates directly into sharper anatomical detail and greater diagnostic confidence for our radiologists and treating consultants.
The system supports the full spectrum of advanced clinical applications required by a multi-specialty hospital:
- Neuroimaging, including diffusion-weighted and perfusion sequences essential in the early detection of stroke, and detailed evaluation of demyelinating disease, epilepsy and intracranial tumours
- Musculoskeletal imaging of the spine, knee, shoulder and small joints, supporting our orthopaedic and spine surgery teams with clearer visualisation of ligaments, menisci, cartilage and marrow
- MR Angiography, including non-contrast techniques that allow vascular assessment in patients with impaired renal function
- Abdominal and pelvic imaging, including MRCP for the hepatobiliary and pancreatic evaluation that supports our gastroenterology services
- Cardiac and whole-body applications as clinical requirements expand
Equally important is what the new system means for the patient lying inside it. Shorter acquisition times reduce the duration of every examination. Quieter sequence technology lowers acoustic noise substantially, and a more open, better-ventilated bore design makes the experience far more tolerable for elderly patients, paediatric patients and those who experience claustrophobia. Examinations that once required sedation can, in many cases, now be completed with reassurance alone — a meaningful safety gain in itself.
Faster, Safer, Sharper: The Siemens 128-Slice CT
Alongside the MRI, the hospital's CT facility has been upgraded to a 128-slice configuration. The clinical value of this upgrade is most visible where time matters most — in the Emergency Department.
Sub-second rotation and wide-volume coverage allow a whole-body trauma scan or a complete stroke protocol to be acquired in a fraction of the time previously required. In acute stroke, where every minute of delay costs viable brain tissue, faster non-contrast CT and CT angiography directly support quicker thrombolysis decisions. In polytrauma, a rapid, motion-free study means a haemodynamically unstable patient spends less time away from the resuscitation bay.
The upgraded scanner also brings:
- CT angiography of the coronary, cerebral, pulmonary and peripheral vasculature with high temporal resolution
- High-quality 3D and multiplanar reconstruction, valuable for pre-operative planning in orthopaedic, neurosurgical and maxillofacial cases
- Advanced dose-reduction technology, including iterative reconstruction, allowing diagnostic-quality images at significantly lower radiation exposure — a particular benefit for paediatric patients and for those requiring repeated follow-up imaging in oncology
- Improved oncology staging and surveillance, supporting more precise treatment planning
Reduced radiation dose without compromise in image quality reflects a principle our radiology department holds firmly: the best scan is the one that answers the clinical question at the lowest possible risk to the patient.
What This Means for Our Patients
The practical impact of these installations will be felt across every clinical department. Diagnoses will be reached faster. Repeat and referral imaging — with the inconvenience, delay and additional cost it imposes on families — will reduce sharply, because studies can now be completed in-house to a standard our consultants can rely on. Emergency, ICU and post-operative patients will no longer need to be transported outside the hospital for advanced imaging, removing a real and well-documented source of clinical risk.
Above all, these services will remain accessible. In keeping with the founding character of this institution, advanced imaging at TRSCH will continue to be offered at charitable and concessional rates for economically weaker patients, ensuring that the most modern diagnostic technology reaches precisely those who would otherwise be unable to afford it. Technology of this calibre is common enough in corporate hospitals; making it available to a patient of limited means, at a price they can meet, is what makes this installation genuinely significant.
With Gratitude to Our Chairman and the Trust
This achievement would not have been possible without the vision, generosity and sustained personal commitment of our Chairman, Mr. Dhruv M. Sawhney whose leadership has guided this project from conception to commissioning.
At a time when many institutions weigh such investments purely in commercial terms, our chairman insisted on a simple and demanding standard: that the poorest patient who walks through our gates should have access to the same quality of diagnosis as anyone else in this city. It is that conviction — patient before profit, service before scale — that made this project possible. His steady encouragement, and his unwavering support for the medical and administrative teams have been the decisive factor in bringing this vision to reality.
The hospital also records its sincere appreciation to the Trustee Mrs. Geeta Rajpal for her confidence and support, and to the Medical Director, Medical Superintendent for their clinical stewardship of the project. The Department of Radiology, the Biomedical Engineering team, the Civil and Electrical departments, and the Purchase and Finance teams worked with exceptional coordination through site preparation, RF shielding, magnet installation and commissioning, and deserve full credit for a smooth and timely rollout.
Safety, Quality and Accreditation
As a NABH-accredited institution, TRSCH has commissioned both units under a comprehensive safety framework. MRI zoning, ferromagnetic screening protocols, patient shifting and emergency evacuation SOPs, contrast administration and sedation protocols, and radiation safety and quality assurance programmes for CT are all in place, supported by structured staff training and periodic mock drills.
Looking Ahead
The new MRI and upgraded CT are now operational and accepting referrals from all outpatient, inpatient and emergency services. For appointments and enquiries, patients and referring physicians may contact the Department of Radiology.
Tirath Ram Shah Charitable Hospital remains committed to expanding its clinical capability in the years ahead — always in the service of the community it was founded to care for.