At Drohobych City Hospital No. 1, the magnetic resonance imaging suite has been officially opened, where high-precision examinations are already being carried out for inpatients, service personnel, veterans and residents of the Drohobych community. The event took place with the participation of regional and city authorities.
The First City Hospital, as a cluster medical facility for the region, provides inpatient treatment to around 25,000 patients and a further 20,000 on an outpatient basis every year. According to the facility, approximately 30% of treated patients are military personnel and internally displaced persons. Many oncological diseases are detected here, and patients with complex neurological and cardiological conditions, who require precise diagnostics, receive treatment.
The launch of the new MRI suite makes it possible to examine internal organs and tissues and to detect pathologies at an early stage. Before the official opening, the suite operated in test mode, providing examinations for inpatients, military personnel and veterans, and more than 100 MRI examinations have already been carried out.
Among those who came to Drohobych for the opening of the suite were the Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Maksym Kozytskyi, his deputy Khrystyna Zamula, Acting Director of the Health Department of the Lviv Regional Military Administration Viktoriia Moisei, Director General of the SI “Lviv Regional Centre for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” Nataliia Ivanchenko, and representatives of the local military administration. The Drohobych community was represented by the Mayor Taras Kuchma, Deputy Mayor Yurii Kushlyk, Head of the Health Department of the Drohobych City Council Volodymyr Chuba, Director General of the Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise “Drohobych City Hospital No. 1” Andrii Kotsiuba, city councillors, heads of municipal enterprises and the hospital’s medical team.
The event began with the performance of the State Anthem of Ukraine and a minute of silence for the soldiers and civilians who have fallen as a result of Russian aggression. Those present received blessings from Father Ivan Pankiv and Father Petro Voitovych.
As noted in his speech by the Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, in modern medicine magnetic resonance imaging is not only an advanced diagnostic method, but also a way to ensure a high degree of diagnostic accuracy and, accordingly, clear treatment algorithms. He stressed that the task of the authorities is to make high-quality medical services accessible to people regardless of their place of residence and to equip municipal hospitals with the necessary equipment.
The Mayor of Drohobych, Taras Kuchma, emphasised that the implementation of the project was the result of joint efforts by the medical staff and the authorities. He pointed out that, to open the MRI suite, it was necessary to construct a dedicated facility, take into account all technological requirements and provide training for the staff.
According to the Director General of the Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise “Drohobych City Hospital No. 1”, Andrii Kotsiuba, the hospital admits between 60 and 80 patients a day with various diagnoses, a significant proportion of whom are severe cases and service personnel. He noted that without high-quality diagnostics it is difficult to provide timely care, and the operation of the MRI scanner has already demonstrated the real need for this type of examination.
More than 31 million hryvnias were raised for the implementation of the project. Over 17 million hryvnias came from the state budget, 10 million were funded by the community, and the remaining amount was provided by the medical facility itself.
The launch of the suite was preceded by extensive technical preparation. A multi-layered Faraday cage was installed in the MRI room, a powerful ventilation system was fitted, and a 120 kW high-voltage cable and electrical switchboard were connected, while water supply and sewerage for the premises were organised. A separate stage involved installing a chiller to cool the scanner, and finally the equipment was calibrated and staff were trained.
The culmination of the opening was the blessing of the new MRI suite. Afterwards, the Head of the Lviv Regional Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, together with the Mayor of Drohobych, Taras Kuchma, inspected the hospital’s refurbished departments, including the emergency medical care department.
Appointments for examinations in the MRI suite are now available via the hospital’s call centre. Patients can be referred for scans through an electronic referral or make use of a paid service.