SEHA showcases UAE’s first CT scanner to diagnose Covid-19-induced pneumonia

The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) has launched the UAE’s first Computerised Tomography (CT) scan for diagnosing pneumonia caused by Covid-19, it said in a statement on Monday.

The specialised CT scanner is available in Al Ain Hospital, a SEHA healthcare facility, where 3,000 patients have already benefited from the new technology that has been in use since the beginning of April 2020.

The machine can evaluate, on an average, eight persons an hour with no contact between people reducing the risk of transmission of the virus.

The 16-slice mobile CT scanner can quickly and safely evaluate patients who have contracted Covid-19 and assess the possibility of pneumonia, a common side effect of the viral infection, reported news agency WAM.

CT scanners with 16-slices include 16 rows of CT detectors, allowing for better-quality imaging and a larger area to be tested during a single scan of a patient’s body.

It captures images of the lungs of Covid-19 patients at the Al Ain Hospital which is a dedicated Covid-19 treatment facility.

This technology therefore assists the SEHA’s efforts in early-detection and improved management of Covid-19 cases.

“The new CT scanner delivers high quality images of our patients and enables us to tailor our treatment plans accordingly within very short timelines. Specialist radiologists receive the results of the scan shortly after and deliver their diagnosis, allowing us to detect the earliest signs of pneumonia in Covid-19 patients in our quest to improve recoveries and mitigate the potential for cases to progress to more critical conditions,” said Dr. Jamal Al-Din Al-Qutaish, consultant and head of radiology and intervention at Al Ain Hospital.

“As part of the UAE’s largest health care provider, we are committed to utilising the latest cutting-edge technological diagnostics to deliver the best healthcare services aligned with global standards. Our mandate has always been to deliver excellent care with an integrated approach – combining world-class medical experience from our doctors with technological innovation and advancements to deliver the most efficient and effective treatment methods for the safety and comfort of our patients,” said Hamid Amhi Al-Mansouri, CEO of Al Ain Hospital.

As of June 15, the UAE has reported a total of 42,636 Covid-19 infections, of which 14,216 individuals are currently being treated.

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The government also confirmed that the overall death toll stands at 291, while 28,129 people have recovered from the virus.