By Chioma Obinna

In the wake of so many allegations of inaccurate medical diagnosis in the country, the Lagos State Government has procured an ultra-modern digital x-ray machine capable of covering 95 per cent of conventional x-ray examinations at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

Unveiling the new machine, which utilises a direct digital radiological image acquisition at a media event in Lagos, State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the installation at LASUTH was a pilot phase, and that plans are underway to facilitate the installation in every hospital and Primary Healthcare Centres across the State.

• The high sensitivity, high resolution digital x-ray machine that is now in use at LASUTH.

On the benefits of the machine, Idris said the Digital x-ray machine is faster, and has less radiation effect. “It does not require any consumable such as chemicals, darkroom. It makes x-ray image acquisition easier to handle and  process. It has faster procedure as no time consuming film processing is required. And the equipment operation is cheaper than the old conventional method.”

Hinting that the machine would soon be linked up through the internet to other hospitals and offices, he said  Lagosians aged 0-12 years and adults above 60 years would be privileged to  enjoy services of the machine free of charge as part of the health services of the government.

In a demonstration,  Consultant Radiologist, Prof. Awosanya Gbolahan said at the machine  is operable in an easy and convenient process as any conventional exposure can be done on a patient in standing, sitting or supine (lying ) position. It is battery operated and as such can be used in areas where the power supply is not efficient or unavailable.

Comparing the new x-ray to the Film Technology type, he said immediate visualisation  of the radiograph is made giving opportunity to quickly analyse the images and hence faster radiological reporting, reduced x-ray dose, easy storage and more patients treated in less time.