The Cost of Getting an MRI Scan in Nigeria: What to Expect

In the world of medicine, there is a revolutionary method of scanning the body for diseases or for problems. This said process would have seemed like a Science Fiction movie and is a process that is yet to fully become commonplace in Nigeria for now and is taking very slow to become accepted. Today am going to tell you all you need to know about this scan, the Cost of MRI in Nigeria, it is called Magnetic Resonance Imaging or MRI for short.

What is MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)?

MRI is a medical imaging technique that allows you to take images or pictures of the inside of a body without using x-ray radiation. It makes use of a powerful magnet combined with electricity to take pictures of various body tissues.  The MRI is very useful for taking photographs of many different parts of the body, including but not limited to, the spine, the brain, the head, the chest, the pelvis, the arm, the abdomen and legs.

However, Some MRI studies may require that a liquid called a contrast substance is injected into a vein in the part you wish to capture to improve the image. The Contrast is a substance used to better observe problems in detail, area of ​​inflammation, or to take better pictures of the bloodstream in detail. If a contrast study is required, you will be asked to change your clothes and put on a hospital gown, and paper shorts, this means taking off all clothing, including underwear. Then the MRI specialist will make sure that you have removed all metallic objects t you have on you including coins, keys, jewellery, buckles, headphones and glasses since the scanner is a powerful magnet and will severely injure you if you have a metal on you. If you have any type of artificial hair that you fixed, you will be asked to remove it before the MRI scan.

Cost of MRI Scan in Nigeria

There are various types of MRI Scan in Nigeria. These obtainable types vary in their various procedures and prices but what they all share in common is their expensive nature. One of the challenges faced by patients in Nigeria is the availability and cost of MRI scan in Nigeria in hospitals, Clinics, and other stations for MRI scan.

The reason for this astronomical cost of MRI scan in Nigeria is that MRI scanners are very expensive and are not readily available as the other of scanners like X-ray and CT scanners.

Generally, full-body MRI scan is the most common type of MRI scan procedure in Nigeria today and is the one that makes the cost of MRI Scan in Nigeria to be astronomical. Let us look at how much various types and cost of MRI scan in Nigeria.

They are:

• Full-Body MRI scan - 200,000 naira to 800,000 naira
• Cranial MRI Scan -50,000 naira to 80,000 naira
• Cervical Spine MRI Scan — 50,000 naira to 80,000 naira
• Thoracic Spine MRI scan— 50,000 naira — 80,000 naira
• Lumbosacral MRI Scan— 50,000 naira — 80,000 naira

These prices are the averages gotten from a review of many hospitals all across Nigeria.

Is MRI Dangerous to your Health?

We have looked at the cost of an MRI Scan in Nigeria, now you may be wondering if the procedure is dangerous to health or if it has any side effects. The good news is that because radiation is not used, there is no risk in any way of exposure to any type of radiation during the MRI scan. Please note that due to the use of magnets, an MRI cannot be performed on patients with any metallic inside or on their body.

MRI scans are safe and relatively easy and are worth the cost of MRI Scan in Nigeria. There is absolutely no health risks associated with the magnetic field or the radio waves generated, since the low-energy radio waves use produce no radiation. The scan can be repeated as many times as you like without side any effects. If the procedure is to be done on a child and your child requires sedation to remain calm, you can then discuss this with your doctor.

During the Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan, you are to lie on a table that will slide inside a tunnel-shaped machine, the scan can take a long time, and you are required to stay still through it all. The scan is painless and has no negative effects. However, The MRI machine happens to make a lot of noise, which the specialist may combat by offering you earplugs.

Before you get an MRI scan, please tell your doctor if you

• Are pregnant.
• Have any pieces of metal in your body whatsoever. You might have metal in your body if you have a bullet injury or if you are a welder.
• Have metal or electronic devices in your body, such as a cardiac pacemaker or an artificial joint

I must comment though that, the Health, the ministry is doing nothing to help reduce the price and make this process commonplace, as it stands now 98% of Government-owned hospitals do not have these scanners and will refer you to a private hospital that we all know is not in any way willing to reduce this prices. I believe it is time that the Nigerian government reviewed its health budget and understand that the health of the nation is extremely important and should never be compromised.