Free lab tests far from reality
PHOTO: EXPRESS
Patients are facing problems in availing free medical lab test facilities offered by the Punjab government in its hospitals.
A number of private laboratories are found functioning near the government hospitals and some employees allegedly create hurdles in the free facility to force the patients to pay for the tests there. It is also alleged that some senior officials of the hospitals themselves have financial interest in the private labs.
A large number of patients visiting the government hospitals need to undergo common medical tests, including MRI, CT scan, LFT, blood tests and X-ray.
Many patients in the outpatient departments and wards said they had been told by hospital employees that they would have to pay for the tests.
Thousands of patients needing diagnostic tests visit the Jinnah Hospital, Government Nawaz Sharif Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Willingdon Hospital, Government Shahdara Hospital, Lahore Gernal Hospital, Kot Khawaja Saeed Hospital, Services Hospital and Punjab Institute of Cardiology daily.
“I have been waiting for the past two days for a CT scan and other tests in the Lahore General Hospital. I had heard that the tests were conducted free of charge but the employees have said that it will have to pay a fee,” said a patient, Shugufta Bibi.
She said she had been told to meet the medical superintendent to be allowed the free test, but had been unable to meet the official.
The patient said she had earlier experienced the same situation in the Jinnah Hospital.
Sources said the free tests had been stopped in the Nawaz Sharif, Jinnah, General and Ganga Ram Hospitals and permission from the MS or senior government officials was required for availing the facility.
An official said the Punjab government had allocated billions of rupees to the hospitals and the higher authorities had instructed their administrators to improve their performance.
He expressed apprehension that the hurdles in offering the services in the hospitals’ own laboratories might be linked to corruption.
However, Lahore General Hospital PRO Zahid Chaudhry asserted, “There is no truth in the allegation that we charge for tests. If anyone has a complaint in this regard, then they should have proof in this regard.”
A hospital employee, Muhammad Faraz, said another problem was that if a patient presented reports of a hospital lab to senior professors, they are advised to undergo the tests in private labs.
He said there was shortage of skilled and trained staff in the hospital labs. A health department spokesman, Syed Hamad Raza, also asserted that all the medical lab tests were being conducted free of charge in the big government hospitals in Lahore and other areas.
Meanwhile, one of the country’s largest emergency medical wards operating in the Mayo Hospital is proving unable to provide the patients beds, medicines and medical services.
A large number of patients from remote areas of Punjab are also brought to the ward.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 6th, 2023.