Khader Directs Measures to Ensure Uninterrupted MRI Services at Wenlock Hospital Amid Helium Shortage

Khader Directs Measures to Ensure Uninterrupted MRI Services at Wenlock Hospital Amid Helium Shortage

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 19, 2026: Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader has directed officials of Wenlock Hospital to ensure that patients are not affected by the shortage of liquid helium required to operate the hospital’s MRI machine.

Chairing a review meeting on the hospital’s functioning and development at the RAPCC (Children’s Hospital) on Saturday, Khader instructed officials to arrange MRI scans for Wenlock patients at KMC Hospital under the Ayushman Bharat Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) scheme at the same rates charged by Wenlock until the technical issues are resolved. He also directed that any additional cost incurred should be borne by Hind Labs (Hindustan Latex Limited-HLL), the agency responsible for maintaining the MRI machine.

The issue was raised by Health Protection Committee member Kareem Gerukatte, who said patients were being referred to private hospitals due to the MRI machine’s limitations, forcing them to pay higher charges for diagnostic scans.

Responding to the concerns, Hind Labs representative Krishna Bhat said the global shortage of liquid helium, triggered by the ongoing war, has disrupted supplies for the past six months. He explained that Wenlock’s MRI machine, installed in 2017, requires more frequent helium refilling than newer models introduced after 2019.

He said the machine was last refilled eight months ago, while the price of helium has risen sharply from ₹1,800 to nearly ₹5,000 per litre. Although the hospital placed an order six months ago, the supply has not yet arrived.

Due to the shortage, the hospital has reduced MRI scans from around 13 per day to only five or six emergency cases. With only about five per cent helium remaining—enough for approximately six more days—the MRI machine could become non-functional if fresh supplies do not arrive, resulting in a potential loss of nearly ₹70 lakh, he said.

Expressing concern, Khader asked officials to find an immediate solution, remarking that the helium shortage could not simply be attributed to the war.

Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr. Shivaprakash informed the minister that the maintenance agreement with HLL will expire in 2026, after which the hospital plans to install a new MRI machine.

During the meeting, Khader also directed officials to prepare an action plan to deploy nursing students from private nursing colleges at Wenlock Hospital, with one nurse for every 30 students. He said the students should perform eight-hour duties under the supervision of a management officer, with the cost to be borne by the respective nursing institutions.

The minister also reviewed the quality of food served to patients. Members of the Health Protection Committee urged the hospital to restore eggs to the patient diet. Hospital authorities said eggs had been replaced with soy and paneer.

Khader directed doctors to assess whether eggs provide better nutrition than soy and paneer. If so, he said, the expenditure on soy and paneer should be reduced and the savings used to provide eggs, stressing that the nutritional rights of patients must remain the top priority.

The meeting was attended by MLC Ivan D’Souza, District Collector Darshan H.V., Zilla Panchayat CEO Vinayak Karbhari, District Health Officer Dr. Thimmayya, and Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr. Shivaprakash.

Ban on sale of junk food in hospitals and educational institutions:

The Karnataka government will soon issue an order prohibiting the sale of junk food in hospitals and educational institutions as part of its initiative to promote healthy eating habits, Health Minister U.T. Khader said. Stating that many diseases originate from the consumption of unhealthy food, he said the Food Safety Act provides strong legal provisions to regulate junk food. To strengthen enforcement, the government will modernise the existing food testing laboratory in Bengaluru to enhance its capacity to gather scientific evidence against violators. Khader added that the modalities for implementing the new rules are being finalised and that a meeting of senior officials has already been held. He also urged supermarkets, food outlets and food manufacturers to ensure the safety and quality of the products they sell.