Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics in the Department of Urology and PET-CT and SPECT-CT facilities in the Department of Nuclear Medicine at VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi on September 3, 2026.
The Centre for Advanced Bladder Diagnostics represents an innovative approach being attempted for the first time in India, integrating Video Urodynamics (VUDS) with Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS)-based brain mapping. This integration enables assessment of changes in cerebral blood oxygenation during bladder filling and emptying, assisting clinicians in determining whether bladder disorders originate from bladder-related, neurological, or combined causes. The facility will enable detailed assessment of bladder function and support diagnosis of urinary bladder disorders, including complex cases associated with neurological conditions. It is expected to cater to approximately 5,000 patients annually.
The newly installed PET-CT facility will support cancer diagnosis, staging, treatment planning, and follow-up, while also facilitating advanced imaging required for specialized therapies. It will further support multidisciplinary clinical management involving Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Hematology, Urology, Nephrology, and Pediatric Oncology. The SPECT-CT facility will strengthen diagnostic services for cardiac, renal, endocrine, orthopaedic, and gastrointestinal conditions, facilitating comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and appropriate clinical management. These advanced Nuclear Medicine services are expected to benefit approximately 600–700 patients annually and will be made available at an affordable cost.
During his visit, Minister Nadda also visited the Heart Command Centre and the Sports Injury Centre at Safdarjung Hospital, reviewing the services and activities being undertaken. He emphasized the need for regular review of projects and periodic inspection of projects in the pipeline, stressing the importance of setting practical and achievable timelines for completion to ensure timely implementation. The Minister appreciated the distinct identity and reputation that Safdarjung Hospital has established over years of service.
The addition of these services marks a significant strengthening of specialized healthcare infrastructure at the hospital. The new facilities will facilitate comprehensive diagnostic evaluation, support timely treatment planning, and strengthen multidisciplinary patient care. They will also support postgraduate education and training while enhancing access to specialized diagnostic and therapeutic services for patients, including those from economically disadvantaged sections of society.
The inauguration program was attended by Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare; Dr. Kavita Rani Sharma, Director, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital; Dr. Charu Bamba, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital; and Smt. Chitra, Joint Secretary (Hospital), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, along with senior officers of the Ministry and faculty members of the hospital.