LAHORE:
“The government of Punjab has resorted to harassing the workers of Shaukat Khanum Laboratory (SKL) collection centres in order to hide its own criminal neglect,” a statement released by Omar Cheema, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central information secretary, on Sunday stated.
It stated some SKL employees had been arrested over alleged over charging, although the hospital had reduced the charge for basic blood test to Rs80 after the government set a Rs90 ceiling. It also said that the chief minister must realise that the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre laboratories generated funds that were used for free treatment of poor patients at the hospital. “These funds are not spent on buying properties and building businesses abroad,” it said.
Imran Khan has strongly condemned the government for the act.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2011.
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A few words for Khadim-e-alaa Punjab
Punjab Government has already limited resources to fight dengue.Closing labs and imprisonment to its staff would further limit the already scare resources.So,Government should keep these labs operational through the very same lab staff whereas it should deal with the owners with iron hands. Moreover, Dengue fever is not just about getting CBC or simple blood test.It is more about getting platelets extracted from donors and injected into the patient.This is where the real exploitation by private labs comes into play. Chugtais Labs initially charged Rs.14000 that they increased to Rs.16000. Shaukat Khanum charges Rs.22000 whereas Jinnah Medical Complex charges Rs. 12000 for the extraction of platelets from the donor.One can very well imagine,the cost to fight dengue shoots up if one platelets count fall below the safe level of 150,000. I would welcome if Punjab Government takes action and fixes the price of platelets extraction service. However, if labs fail to comply,then government should take the charge of such lab facilities to ensure capacity is not compromised.Moreover,those who had paid hefty charges for platelets extraction service should be given their money back if prices set by Punjab Government are lesser than what were previously charged. That would be huge relief to the masses whose 70 percent of bleak income goes to basic facilities.
Thanks ET for covering this important news. Pathetic act my Khadim e Ala.