NIH nearly doubles cost of allergy test
An official explains that increase is the result of inflationary pressures
Official explains that increase is the result of inflationary pressures. PHOTO: Express
ISLAMABAD:
Despite receiving a massive annual budget, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has added to the pain of the poor after it nearly doubled the rates for allergy tests to Rs1,000.
Previously, tests at the country’s only government-run allergy centre used to cost Rs550.
Operating under the federal health ministry, monthly allergy vaccines at the centre also cost a whopping Rs500. Together, a dose of vaccine and a test will now set a patient back by Rs1,500.
Around 250-300 patients from across the country visit the centre every day for a checkup. The consultation fee, including the vaccine, cost around Rs1,500.
Despite the budget allocated and the fees charged, there is no immunologist at the centre.
Sources disclosed that even though there has been a massive increase in population, especially of Islamabad, the centre was still making the same amount of vaccine as before. Moreover, the source said that there was no increase in the cost of making the vaccine.
NIH Executive Director Brigadier (retd) Amir Ikram told Daily Express that the cost of the test was raised due to the prevailing rates of inflation and economic conditions of the country.
He insisted that the institute provides free medical services and treatment to the poor but they were compelled to raise the price of the allergy test.
Asked about the lack of immunologist at the centre, Brig (retd) Ikram said that there was a shortage of such experts in the country. While it was not possible to immediately provide the services of an immunologist at the institute, he assured that the matter would be considered in the future.
He added that at the height of the allergy season, they receive some 500 patients per day. To share the load, he said that they were working on plans to establish a centre in Balochistan with technical help from the health ministry. In this regard, a project concept-I of the project has already been approved.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for NIH when asked about the hike in the fee for the allergy test expressed his ignorance about the increase.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2019.
Despite receiving a massive annual budget, the National Institute of Health (NIH) has added to the pain of the poor after it nearly doubled the rates for allergy tests to Rs1,000.
Previously, tests at the country’s only government-run allergy centre used to cost Rs550.
Operating under the federal health ministry, monthly allergy vaccines at the centre also cost a whopping Rs500. Together, a dose of vaccine and a test will now set a patient back by Rs1,500.
Around 250-300 patients from across the country visit the centre every day for a checkup. The consultation fee, including the vaccine, cost around Rs1,500.
Despite the budget allocated and the fees charged, there is no immunologist at the centre.
Sources disclosed that even though there has been a massive increase in population, especially of Islamabad, the centre was still making the same amount of vaccine as before. Moreover, the source said that there was no increase in the cost of making the vaccine.
NIH Executive Director Brigadier (retd) Amir Ikram told Daily Express that the cost of the test was raised due to the prevailing rates of inflation and economic conditions of the country.
He insisted that the institute provides free medical services and treatment to the poor but they were compelled to raise the price of the allergy test.
Asked about the lack of immunologist at the centre, Brig (retd) Ikram said that there was a shortage of such experts in the country. While it was not possible to immediately provide the services of an immunologist at the institute, he assured that the matter would be considered in the future.
He added that at the height of the allergy season, they receive some 500 patients per day. To share the load, he said that they were working on plans to establish a centre in Balochistan with technical help from the health ministry. In this regard, a project concept-I of the project has already been approved.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for NIH when asked about the hike in the fee for the allergy test expressed his ignorance about the increase.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 9th, 2019.