Free MRI scans: new tomograph at a Mykolaiv hospital operates around the clock

An expert-class magnetic resonance imaging scanner has begun operating at Mykolaiv City Hospital No. 4. Patients can undergo examinations covered by the NSZU Medical Guarantee Program free of charge with an electronic referral from a specialist physician. The hospital’s page shared details about the new equipment and diagnostic services.

The system was installed in the radiology department as part of a scheduled equipment upgrade. This has expanded the hospital’s diagnostic capabilities: patients can now receive the necessary examinations on site.

The scanner is available around the clock, seven days a week. This is particularly important for emergency care for people suspected of having an acute stroke. Rapid imaging helps doctors determine the nature of the damage and begin treatment within the therapeutic window — the period when every minute can be decisive.

During the first two months of operation, doctors performed more than 900 MRI examinations. Among those who underwent scans were 69 military personnel.

In addition to emergency scans, the hospital also provides scheduled MRI examinations. Patients can access the following:

• brain MRI;
• vascular MRI;
• spinal MRI;
• joint MRI;
• abdominal MRI;
• pelvic MRI;
• specialized contrast-enhanced examinations.

The hospital emphasizes that patients do not need to pay for examinations covered by the Medical Guarantee Program packages. An electronic referral from a specialist physician is required to receive them free of charge.

The new equipment’s launch follows earlier developments. At a staff meeting on August 4, Iryna Shamrai, head of the Mykolaiv City Council’s Health Department, reported that, due to a malfunction in the hospital’s CT scanner, the stroke unit was temporarily out of operation, and patients were being admitted by other facilities. The faulty scanner was sent to the manufacturer for repair.

At the time, installation of the new MRI system was still being completed. According to the official, the supplier had promised to finish the installation and commission the system by August 15, after which the stroke unit was expected to resume operations. Patient referral arrangements were discussed with relevant experts, while City Hospital No. 1 and City Hospital No. 5 took on most of the workload during the repairs and installation. Both facilities operated under increased pressure, ensuring uninterrupted care for the residents of Mykolaiv.

We previously reported:

• Children in Mykolaiv to receive overnight EEG monitoring while asleep
• Patients should not be forced to pay for CT scans: Health Ministry preparing legislative changes
• Among the best: a multidisciplinary medical team in Mykolaiv’s Korabelnyi District fights strokes
• “Examinations will be free”: Mykolaiv Regional Hospital gets an upgraded MRI scanner
• “Hospitals will not charge for X-rays, ultrasound scans or MRI scans,” says the head of the city health department