news details |
|
|
| Private diagnostic centres take people for ride in Srinagar, authorities in deep slumber | | | Mudasir Tariq
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 20: In the absence of any check from health authorities dozens of private testing labs in the summer capital are taking the patients for ride. These labs are charging colossal amount for performing various tests.
The tests that could otherwise have been very economical if performed in government hospitals are hard hitting the pockets of poor patients. Without any fear on part of the administration these diagnostic centers and testing labs in the city are charging exorbitant rates for tests.
"Patients are aghast due to the unjustified rates asked for tests at several diagnostic centers across the city and that no rate schedule has been finalized," said a group of youth outside a testing lab in Khayam area of Srinagar city.
Early Times talked to several patients in the city who attributed the same views.
"The doctors advised me to go for the blood test immediately. I went to the private diagnostic laboratory and was charged more than Rs. 900 while as the actual cost is only Rs. 250," said Salim Umar, a patient.
Sources in the health department reveal that due to the nexus between private testing labs and health authorities the loot goes unnoticed, while the patients are forced to pay high without any complaint.
"Private testing labs provide their due commission to the high ups in health department and doctors who refer patients to these labs. As such poor patients are robbed in the day light," said sources adding that there are no regulations that could control the rates of tests at private labs.
The successive governments in the state have spent crores of rupees to develop the hospitals and put in place modern technology to perform tests free of cost. However this has proved to be the paper work only as the government hospitals have scarcity of the facilities and the machines meant for the diagnosis are always not functioning.
"Apart from super specialty hospitals, no government run hospital is equipped with testing labs and if somehow it is present, it would definitely be non-functional. This is clearly depicting the poor state of health," said Dr. Bashir Ahmad.
Zahoor Ahmad, General Secretary, Private Diagnostic Centres Association said that rates for the tests have been finalized with due consent of the health department and that they follow the rates in letter and spirit.
"We do not disobey the rate schedule but yes there are some centers in Srinagar who offer the reason that they have some high tech machines. To my knowledge there is no such rule wherein you can charge extra money to the patient," said Zahoor. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
