Price hikes at Punjab hospitals draw widespread criticism

70% of diagnostic fee charged would be retained by Punjab government

MULTAN/ LAHORE: A recent notification issued by the primary and secondary healthcare department regarding a steep increase in the prices for tests and facilities being provided at government hospitals has drawn criticism from doctors.

The notification was issued after approval from the Punjab cabinet and concerns all-district and tehsil headquarter hospitals in the province. According to the notification that was issued on August 17, 70% of the diagnostic fee charged would be retained by the Punjab government while the remaining 30% would be kept by the hospital.

The notification introduced a ticket of Rs50 for patients visiting dental out-patient departments (OPDs). Previously, patients could visit OPDs free-of-charge.

Punjab medical sector gets a healthy boost

Under the notification, the government would charge Rs2,500 for a CT scan, Rs100 for an electrocardiogram (ECG), Rs150 for an ultrasound, Rs60 for x-rays and Rs200 for a complete blood count (CBC). Further, patients will be charged Rs300 for a liver function test (LFT), Rs30 for a urine test, Rs65 for a pregnancy test, Rs400 for a coagulation profile, Rs75 for hepatitis C screening and Rs250 for a lipid profile, to name a few.

Moreover, parking fees will also be charged; Rs20 for cars and Rs10 for motorbikes.

The notification has angered young doctors. Young Doctors Association (Reformers) Patron in Chief Dr Mian Adnan lamented the hike in the prices for medical tests. “Inflation has already burdened the underprivileged. The hike in the prices for healthcare facilities will be a burden for all segments of society,” he said.

YDA (Reformers) President Dr Zubair Siddique dubbed the move an attempt to add to the miseries of poor patients who already have to deal with a medicine shortage at government hospitals.

YDA (Reformers) Spokesperson Dr Saeed Ahmed Chaudhry suggested the health department consider making the health cards system beneficial for state-run hospitals instead of private facilities.

He stated that by doing so billions of rupees going into the pockets of private hospital owners would instead go to government hospitals. He argued that the patient category system is functioning in various facilities of the province, enabling them to avail facilities akin to private facilities.

Punjab medical sector gets a healthy boost

“Utilising health cards at government hospitals will not only improve the infrastructure of these facilities but will also lessen the burden of providing funds,” he said.

Meanwhile, Spokesperson for Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Gill has denied the news about terminating free-of-charge test facilities for underprivileged patients at government hospitals in the province. “Medical tests are being done free-of-cost at emergencies and free treatment facilities for those in need will not be abolished,” he said.

However, there has been a slight increase in the prices for medical tests at OPDs in public hospitals, he maintained. Both the privileged and the underprivileged cannot avail facilities free-of-charge.

Those in need can avail medical tests free-of-cost at OPDs after submitting an affidavit, he said.

The move was an attempt to improve the standard of labs in public hospitals. The cost for medical tests in public hospitals is lower than that in private labs, he stated. He added that the Punjab government is distributing health cards to nearly 35 million poor people.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2019.