KL Report
SRINAGAR
Several diagnostic centres across Srinagar are involved in charging the exorbitant rates for different clinical tests making the ailing people to suffer at large.
A delegation of senior citizens to KNS, that the patients at present are aghast due to the unjustified rates of tests being imposed at several diagnostic centres across the city and that no rate schedule has been finalized to put limits on the same.
“The doctors advised me to go for the urine culture test immediately, I went to the private diagnostic laboratory for the same and was charged more than nine hundred rupees, the actual price of the test is only 250,” said Khalid Syed, a member of the delegation that visited KNS to register its protest.
Another patient while relating the same tale told KNS that the rates being imposed at the private diagnostic centres cannot be legitimized and that these centres are taking people for a ride everyday. “They know that the patient has to go for the test and then they charge the patient unjustified amount and no one really raises any concern.”
Zaina Begum, resident of Chanapora another member of the delegation says that several labs while providing justifications for the extra rates, high tech machines but there are no regulations that could control the rates of tests at private labs.
The general secretary of Private Diagnostic centres association Mr Afaq when contacted said that the rates for the tests at private diagnostic centres have been fully finalized and that the centres follow the rates in letter and spirit. “We do not transgress the rate schedule but yes some centres are there in Srinagar who give the reason that they have some high tech machines but to my knowledge there is no such rule wherein you can charge extra bucks to the patient.”
President of the association Mr.Umar said that the priority of the diagnostic centers across the summer capital is to help the patients at large. He further stated that the association has made it the top most duty not to charge any extra rate to the ailing patients. “We will never allow this to happen. There are some people who without any justification charge patients too much, we advise them to go for any other business. The medical profession is meant to remain in service of the people and help them in all circumstances, anyone who does its opposite should leave this sacred profession,” said Umar.
Patients have further alleged that the government hospitals have the scarcity of the facilities and the machines meant for the diagnosis, always remain out of function.
After the repeated attempts by KNS, the contact with the hospital authorities was not established.
