Govt Rajindra Hospital starts 24x7 lab service
Karam Prakash
Tribune News Service
Patiala, March 13
Patients visiting Government Rajindra Hospital will not have to run to private labs for blood tests, courtesy the hospital will, henceforth, operate 24x7 testing laboratory.
In fact, with an aim to curb fleecing of the poor patients by private labs the Government Rajindra Hospital authorities have already started round the clock bio-chemistry lab (BCL).
In its decision, Principal, Medical College, Patiala, has asked all heads of the Departments (HoDs) of Pathology, Biochemistry, and Microbiology, who conduct blood test analysis, to start the process from Wednesday itself.
Moreover, the hospital authorities have instructed junior and senior residents (SR) not to refer any patient to private labs. The instructions also clarified that if any test, which could not be conducted at the hospital lab, should be notified to the authorities concerned. The newly appointed Principal, Medical College, Dr KK Aggarwal said, “We are committed to provide best health care facilities to the people of Punjab. The decision will surely benefit poor people as private labs charge four times the price at the hospital.” Dr Aggarwal informed that both manpower and machines required to implement the new arrangements were available at the BCL lab 24x7.
Medical Superintendent, Rajindra Hospital, Rajan Singla said, “We inspected the lab today to check its functioning and will be conducting such inspections on regular basis.”
Notably, The Tribune had exposed the alleged nexus between doctors at Government Rajindra Hospital and private laboratories, in the city wherein patients were asked to go to private labs for medical tests. Following the Tribune Report, Principal, Government College, had formed a committee to probe the malpractice.
Moreover, junior residents (JR) of Government of Rajindra Hospital had also demanded that laboratories at the hospital should stay open for 24 hours. Some doctors at the hospital told the Tribune that the decision would be a deterrent to the unholy nexus between hospital doctors and private labs.
