Don't refer patients without cause: Rohtak PGIMS

An internal analysis conducted at the PGIMS has revealed that a significant number of patients are being referred to the institute from other government medical colleges without valid justification. The review found that most of these patients could be treated at the referring colleges themselves, as they are equipped with the required medical infrastructure and qualified doctors.

Taking a serious note of the issue, the PGIMS has written to Pt BD Sharma University of Health Sciences Rohtak (UHSR), requesting it to intervene and instruct government medical colleges to avoid unnecessary referrals. Officials at the PGIMS have pointed out that such referrals not only cause delays and inconvenience to patients but also place an additional burden on the institute.

Dr Kundan Mittal, Medical Superintendent (MS), PGIMS, told 'The Tribune' that the PGIMS received over 300 referred patients every month from various medical colleges. Over 70 per cent of the cases involved patients suffering from general illnesses, for which the referring colleges had the necessary facilities and specialists. Despite this, the patients were being referred, he claimed.

“While the PGIMS has no objection to treating referred patients, the practice leads to unnecessary distress for patients and their families. When the state government has provided medical colleges with adequate staff and infrastructure, there should be no reason for the patients to be referred to the PGIMS without proper cause,” the MS maintained.

Dr Mittal also suggested that there should be a Standard Operating Procedure in place to regulate referrals and prevent arbitrary decisions by medical colleges.

“The PGIMS has made the contact details of its specialist doctors available on its website. This allows doctors from other government hospitals and medical colleges to seek expert opinions, if needed, before deciding to refer a patient,” he said, adding that in many cases, patients were referred without being properly stabilised.

“Such practices increase the risk of complications, morbidity, and even mortality. Therefore, we have requested the authorities to hold a meeting with the Medical Superintendents of all government medical colleges to discuss the issue and formulate a policy that minimises referrals and ensures safe and effective patient care,” he said.