Surat New Civil Hospital Makes EEG, NCV Tests Free for Patients

The hospital aims to improve access to neurological investigations, reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure, and eliminate the need to travel outside the city for these tests.

New Civil Hospital (NCH) in Surat has launched electroencephalography (EEG) diagnostic services and made both EEG and nerve conduction velocity (NCV) tests available free of cost.

The hospital aims to improve access to neurological investigations, reduce patients’ out-of-pocket expenditure, and eliminate the need to travel outside the city for these tests.

According to a hospital official, EEG testing can cost up to INR 5,000 at private hospitals, while NCV testing can cost up to INR 4,000. Providing both investigations free of charge at the public hospital could help patients access specialised diagnostic care at a lower financial burden.

EEG is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that records electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp. Doctors use the test to investigate seizures, episodes of unexplained unconsciousness, and certain sleep-related disorders.

It can also support the clinical assessment of patients with suspected neurological abnormalities following brain injuries. The findings help clinicians evaluate brain activity alongside symptoms, medical history, and other investigations.

NCV testing, also known as nerve conduction studies, measures how quickly and effectively electrical signals travel through peripheral nerves. It is commonly used to assess nerve damage and investigate symptoms such as numbness, tingling, muscle weakness and pain.

The test can help doctors evaluate conditions including peripheral neuropathy, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome.

With EEG and NCV testing now available free of cost, NCH has taken a step towards making essential neurological diagnostics more accessible to patients who might otherwise face substantial private-sector charges.

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