Five seconds per scan instead of lengthy processing: what’s impressive about the new X-ray machine in Korabelnyi

At Mykolaiv City Hospital No. 5, located in the Korabelnyi district, a new digital X-ray machine is being prepared for launch. The equipment is expected to significantly speed up the diagnosis of injuries, internal trauma and other dangerous conditions, with doctors able to receive examination results almost instantly. The new equipment was purchased and delivered by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as part of an international programme to modernise medical facilities in the Mykolaiv region. Unlike analogue systems, the digital machine produces an image without the lengthy process of developing X-ray film.

“Previously, the film had to be processed, developed, fixed, then dried and handed over. That all took valuable time. Now it takes five seconds, and the image is ready,” explained radiologist Viktor Shpakovskyi.

Another advantage of the new equipment is cost savings. The hospital will no longer need to regularly buy special X-ray film, which contains silver. With the new machine, medical staff will be able to diagnose more quickly fractures and other traumatic injuries, damage to internal organs, acute surgical conditions and, in some cases, identify signs of cancer.

However, before it can receive its first patient, the equipment must undergo mandatory preparations. Installation and calibration must be completed, medical staff trained, and the licensing process carried out. The new machine is especially important for the hospital’s round-the-clock operations, as the radiology department continues to face a heavy workload.

“There were days when we had up to 100 people, and each might need not just one image, but several,” said Viktor Shpakovskyi.

At the same time, the doctor stresses that even the most advanced equipment cannot replace the expertise of a medical professional.

“Digital equipment significantly speeds up examinations, and the image appears on the screen straight away. However, a radiologist’s attentiveness and experience are essential for making an accurate diagnosis,” he noted.

It has not yet been announced when the new X-ray machine will begin serving patients. The modernisation of medical facilities in the Mykolaiv region is being carried out with the involvement of international partners. According to the UN, a joint project involving UNOPS, the Government of Denmark and Danish company Novo Nordisk предусматриes hospital repairs and the supply of modern equipment to medical facilities in the region.

We previously reported:

• A state-of-the-art X-ray machine purchased for a hospital in the Korabelnyi district
• New equipment and renovated premises: Mykolaiv develops its medical facilities despite the war
• A hospital in the Korabelnyi district opens a modernised rehabilitation department
• Denmark breathes new life into a hospital in the Korabelnyi district: modern surgical facilities
• New elevators, an operating room and wards: four hospitals being upgraded in Mykolaiv