Mobile CT scans come to elderly in Hangzhou

A mobile vehicle with sophisticated medical imaging devices normally found only in hospitals allows high-tech examinations to be offered free to elderly residents near their homes in the Qiantang district of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Staffed with medical professionals — including physicians and technicians from the community health center in the Hezhuang subdistrict and volunteers from local communities — the vehicle provided overall mobile CT scanning services for residents of Wenwei village on Wednesday.

The mobile unit aims to beef up screening for the elderly, especially those aged 65 and above, and people with underlying medical conditions and difficulties getting around. Doctors want to reduce the risk of severe illnesses and deaths resulting from COVID-19 lung infections.

"I never thought we would see free CT services at our doorsteps," said a 66-year-old Wenwei resident surnamed Li. "The whole examination process takes no more than five minutes."

Having recovered from COVID-19 infections recently, many elderly residents such as Li were unsure about their lung condition. Getting a CT examination in the vehicle saved them the hassle of going to the hospital.

"The mobile CT vehicle is easy to access, and it can immediately solve the public's medical needs, facilitating diagnoses and treatment for some special groups," said Yuan Haijiang, an official from the community health service center of Hezhuang subdistrict.

"It has effectively alleviated the shortage of medical resources in remote areas and offered faster and better diagnosis and treatment services."

The vehicle can process around 200 examinations per day.

According to the Qiantang district health commission, more than 12,000 residents aged 65 and above have underlying diseases, and nearly 5,000 of them need the mobile CT screening at their doorsteps for assorted reasons.

The Qiantang government has pledged to expand the service to residents in its seven other subdistricts.

Since the recent adjustments to COVID-19 control policies, various efforts, including distributing daily necessities and medical supplies to the elderly in rural areas, improving health education and hygiene awareness among the public, conducting free disease screenings and providing subsidies for medical staff, have been made across the province.

Fang Xiaoying in Hangzhou contributed to this story.