Telangana: 44 maternity hospitals get TIFFA scan machines

Hyderabad: In a major push for maternal and child care, Telangana has introduced 56 targeted imaging for foetal anomalies (TIFFA) scan at 44 maternity hospitals in the state. The machines have higher precision than ultrasound examinations and can help detect birth defects in the unborn child in the womb itself.

The machines were inaugurated by health minister T Harish Rao and home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali at Petlaburj maternity hospital and other centres virtually on Saturday. "We have introduced this set up at the cost of 20 crore. Radiologists and gynaecologists working at the hospitals have already been trained in the use of the scanning machines. This new machine will greatly help reduce out of pocket expenses for patients coming to government hospitals as a TIFFA scan in private costs up to 3,000," Harish Rao said.

According to officials, presently the state has 155 ultrasound scanning machines in government hospitals and, an average, 11,000 to 12,000 tests were being conducted every month. These new machines would further bolster the scanning efforts as the officials have estimated nearly 20,000 pregnant women would be using this every month. This scan is usually conducted between 18 and 22 week of pregnancy. "The machine is going to be a game changer as it helps detect the status of amniotic fluid, the position of the baby and scan their internal organs to notice any defects," Rao added.