63.5 million to acquire more than 1,500 new ultrasound machines

The Council of Ministers has authorised a framework agreement of the Ministry of Health for the selection of suppliers for the environmentally friendly supply of 1,579 ultrasound equipment for several autonomous communities, centres of the National Institute of Health Management (INGESA) in Ceuta and Melilla and State Administration bodies, with an estimated value of 63,459,959 euro.

This agreement is part of the High Health Technology Plan (Plan AMAT-I), which provides continuity to the INVEAT Plan and with which the Ministry of Health seeks to reduce the obsolescence of the technological park of high-tech equipment of the National Health System (SNS), increase the diagnostic capabilities of the centres by improving the technological range of the equipment to be renewed and expanding the technological park.

In this way, cohesion and efficiency measures are promoted in the field of the SNS, by promoting joint actions of the State Administration and the health services of the autonomous communities, in the centralised purchases of medicines and health products.

An important part of the diagnostic imaging equipment such as conventional radiology, mammography and ultrasound equipment could not be included in the INVEAT Plan and more than 50% of them have been installed for more than 10 years. Of these, more than half are based on analogue technology to obtain the image, which greatly limits the implementation and use of new image management and distribution technologies.

A similar situation exists for installed ultrasound equipment, which also has a shorter life cycle due to the constant incorporation of technological innovations.

This agreement includes seven lots to purchase a total of 1,579 ultra-portable ultrasound machines; portable or basic portable ultrasound machines; complete portable ultrasound machines; ultrasound machines for general clinical use; ultrasound for use in special needs: diagnostic imaging; ultrasound machines for use in obstetrics; and ultrasound machines for echocardiograms.

The 1,579 teams will be distributed in centres in Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla León, Extremadura, Madrid, the Valencian Community, the Ministry of Defence and Ceuta and Melilla.

This is the sixth and last framework agreement within the AMAT-I Plan, since the previous five were already approved by the Council of Ministers.