On 25 June 2020, Associate Thanya Subhadrabandhu, M.D., Acting Vice President of Mahidol University alongside Professor Piyamitr Sritara, M.D., Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital Mahidol University received CT Scan equipment from Mr. Chaowalit Ekabut, Executive Director, SCG Foundation, at the Ramadhibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital, at the Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute campus, of the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University.
Professor Piyamitr Sritara, M.D., Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital gave a warm welcome to the distinguished guests present at the handover ceremony, and delivered a speech regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic. Prof. Sritara, M.D., emphasized the importance of diagnosis of patients suspected of being infected, alongside the increase of caution in screening patients suspected to have the condition. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the diagnosis of COVID-19 infections must be maintained. Such efforts can be achieved by this collaborative effort between the SCG Foundation, United Imaging Company, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, and the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, launching a project studying the efficacy of the use of computer X-Ray machines in patients speculated to have COVID-19. The potential of medical devices to be used efficiently and for the greatest merit to wider society.
Following, Mr. Chaowalit Ekabut, Executive Director, SCG Foundation, spoke of the first phase of the outbreak of COVID-19, when one-hundred cases were reported within the Kingdom of Thailand. At the time, the demand of protective equipment (PPE) was not enough, causing medical personnel to be at risk of infection, and be unknowingly infected. Therefore, the SCG foundation has collaborated with the SCG company to create innovative ways to approach safety for medical personnel working with COVID-19, such as: screening rooms; testing rooms; isolation chambers, which prevents mobile negative pressure infection; and a small-scale negative pressure patient capsule for CT scan, which is a technology that that can be produced and installed in a short span of time. Simultaneously, the SCG Foundation has funded more than 50 million baht to sponsor over 15 hospitals in medical innovations across the Kingdom, including Ramathibodi Hospital and the Chakri Narubodindra Medical Institute.
The uCT530, the CT Scan medical imaging equipment received, is one of many innovations for screening patients and tracking symptoms, with the Chinese Academy of Sciences graciously offering suggestions towards the use of this equipment. The uCT530 can display clear, high resolution images, while generating such data using low radiation levels in just 2 minutes. In addition, this machine supports high volumes of use: up to 300 people per day can undergo screening, benefitting various practices of healthcare for the future.
