Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with your permission, I will reply to PQ B/613, addressed to the hon. Minister of Health and Wellness. I am informed that the Ministry has four Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) apparatus operating at the following public health institutions. I will go by the common names – • Dr. A.G. Jeetoo Hospital, Port Louis;

66 • SSRN Hospital, Pamplemousses; • SAJ Hospital, Flacq, and • NCC, Solferino. On the other hand, CT scan machines are available at the following health institutions – • 1 at Dr. A.G. Jeetoo Hospital, Port Louis; • 1 SSRN Hospital, Pamplemousses; • 1 Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Rose Belle; • 2 at Victoria Hospital, Candos; • 1 at ENT Hospital, Vacoas, and • 1 at NCC, Solferino. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that out of the four MRI equipment in public hospitals, the one at SSRN Hospital and the one at the National Cancer Centre are both functional, whereas that of Dr. Jeetoo Hospital is out of order since 12 May 2025. Spare parts to effect repairs have already been ordered and delivery is expected by end of this month. The repairs will then be completed within one week of the receipt of the spare parts. As regards the MRI at SAJ Hospital, the MRI equipment has been delivered on 06 June 2025, and installation is in progress. Training and commissioning will be done, and the machine will be operational as from August 2025. With regard to the CT scan machines, I am informed that there are seven of them. Out of the seven, only two are fully functional – one at Dr. Jeetoo Hospital and one at Victoria Hospital, whereas those at JNH and ENT Hospital are partly functional. The status regarding the other three CT scan machines is as follows. It is not a long response, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Please, allow me to go through it –

67 • At SSRN Hospital, the equipment encountered problems on 13 May 2025. Troubleshooting actually revealed issues with some spare parts, which have now been ordered, and it will be received by end of this month. It will take one week for the machine to be up and operational. • At Victoria Hospital, the CT scan equipment was also faulty. Repairs have been completed. As we speak, calibration is scheduled. The equipment will be fully operational very soon. • At the NCC, the contract has been allocated for a comprehensive maintenance. Today, again, it is being done. Repairs, as per the problems that are there, will be effected within one month after allocation of a contract which is due today. With regard to part (b) of the question, the procurement procedures have already been initiated for the procurement of a CT scan apparatus for SAJ Hospital. Procurement, here, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, is transparent. It is not being done as it used to be done under the MSM regime. Moreover, provision has been made in the Budget 2025-2026 for the acquisition of two additional MRI equipment and two CT scan machines. On an average, as a benchmark, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, for a population of 1.2 million, we are currently below standard. We are substandard. This is why people who are already suffering and are having to wait for long time, are being transferred from one hospital to another so that they can benefit from the services that these equipment deliver. That is just for their own health. Therefore, there was really no focus by the MSM government with regard to the health of the nation. What they did was more of a money illusion instead of investing that money in the health of the public. Let me just exemplify. It is very quick, totally related to the question.

The question (b) is simple: “when all public health institutions will be equipped therewith?” Just tell us the lifespan, how many months or how many years, if you can.

Yes.

I know you are not the substantive Minister.

68

No, I am good with that. I just wanted to add this last bit to conclude.

Conclude!

In the first year, we have already ordered equipment so that there is a 50% increase in the MRI equipment and 30% increase in the CT Scan equipment so that we can deliver better health services, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you.

So, this shows how much we care about the nation’s health. Just to conclude, with a view mitigate the time frame for the CT scan and MRI reports in case of breakdown of equipment, the patient is actually currently being referred to other hospitals. This is for us to ensure that the medical services are being deployed. Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.

Thank you, hon. Minister. Hon. Second Member for Quartier Militaire and Moka! ZEP SCHOOLS – MEAL PROGRAMME – QUALITY ASSURANCE