Health Dept earns Rs 33.77 lakh in dope test

Sumeer Singh

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 12

The district Health Department has collected a fair amount of revenue on account of the mandatory dope test for the arms licence seeker.

As per the data procured from the department, as many as 2,750 arms licence seekers have undergone the dope test in the district since January. By that count, the department has earned a revenue of Rs 33,77,500 from dope tests alone this year.

The dope tests for arms licence seekers began here at the Civil Hospital on January 25. The fee for the dope test was Rs 500, which was increased to Rs 800 after two months. Later, on the directions of the Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, the fee was again increased to Rs 1,500 on April 19.

After April 19, as many as 1,800 arms licence seekers have undergone dope tests by paying Rs 1,500, which accounts for Rs 27,00,000. Earlier, 275 arms licence seekers paid Rs 500 for the dope test that fetched Rs 1,37,500 for the department and 675 applicants paid that again garnered Rs 5,40,000.

Officials at the Health Department claimed that the revenue collections have not improved from the way they have picked up initially.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, Senior Medical Officer, Dr Satish Goyal, said, “The revenue collections have remained low from what we had expected initially. There were many arms licence seekers turning up at the hospital when the dope test started here. But over time, the number of arms license seekers dropped.”

“Keeping in view the shortage of staff and avoid hampering medical services, we have even reduced the days from six to three days for dope tests at the hospital now. The money collected from dope tests would be utilized for clear outstanding payments and improve upon quality of medical services at the hospital,” added Dr Goyal.

Dope tests began on January 25

• The dope tests for arms licence seekers began here at the Civil Hospital on January 25. The fee for the dope test was Rs 500, which was increased to Rs 800 after two months. Later on, the directions of the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, the fee was again increased to Rs 1,500 on April 19.