Union Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday inaugurated the Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics in the Department of Urology and new PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi.

The new facilities are aimed at strengthening specialised diagnostic services and expanding access to advanced healthcare for patients, including those from economically disadvantaged sections.

During his visit, Nadda also inspected the Heart Command Centre and Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital and reviewed the services and activities being undertaken at the centres.

Reviewing the hospital’s functioning and ongoing projects, the Health Minister stressed the need for regular project reviews and periodic inspections of projects in the pipeline. He also called for practical and achievable timelines to ensure timely completion and implementation of healthcare infrastructure projects.

Nadda also appreciated the distinct identity and reputation Safdarjung Hospital has established over the years in the healthcare sector. 

The newly established Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics features Video Urodynamics (VUDS) integrated with Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS). The facility will enable detailed evaluation of bladder function and assist in diagnosing urinary bladder disorders, including complex cases associated with neurological conditions.

According to the Health Ministry, the integration of VUDS with brain mapping through NIRS is being attempted for the first time in India. The technology can assess changes in cerebral blood oxygenation during bladder filling and emptying, potentially helping clinicians determine whether a bladder disorder has a bladder-related, neurological or combined origin.

The new PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine will strengthen diagnostic capabilities across cancer care, cardiology, neurology, renal diseases and endocrinology. 

The PET-CT facility will support cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment planning and follow-up, as well as advanced imaging for specialised therapies. It will also strengthen multidisciplinary care involving Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Hematology, Urology, Nephrology and Pediatric Oncology.

The SPECT-CT facility will expand diagnostic services for cardiac, renal, endocrine, orthopaedic and gastrointestinal conditions, supporting comprehensive evaluation and clinical management.