17 Aug 2017 | 05:27am IST
Hospicio ‘directing’ patients to private labs for patho tests
Patient’s kin in for a rude shock when asked to pay Rs 1,750 for the blood tests; Hospital via a letter to the Health Dept had requested to include these tests in DDSSY to provide patients with some respite; Authorities tight-lipped but docs confirm lack of facilities for tests
MARGAO: The kin of an elderly patient, who complained of chest pain and breathlessness after being admitted to Hospicio, was in for a rude shock to find out that this hospital which caters to the healthcare needs of South Goans lacked the facility to conduct the test.
Following primary examination, the doctor on duty asked the relative of the patient to conduct multiple tests. The doctor then asked them to get a container from any of the three orally-referred private pathology labs and then provide the hospital with the blood test samples.
The patient’s relative, who comes from a lower-middle class family, was in for a rude shock when asked to pay Rs 1,750 for the blood tests. She was left wondering as to why such facilities were not available in Hospicio.
When contacted, the relative said she was forced to borrow money from some family friends for conducting the tests.
When asked to shed some light on the incident, Medical Superintendent Dr Ira Almeida said she would find out the details and revert back.
However, some doctors in the Hospicio too have backed the fact that there is no facility for conducting some tests in the hospital and patients are referred to private pathology laboratories.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a doctor said, “Hospicio lacks some of the modern machines which are required to conduct these tests. Several cardiac patients visit this district hospital and the same should be equipped with the machines to conduct such tests."
It was learnt that further that on an average everyday one-two patients come with complaints of chest pain if not found stable after primary examination they are referred to private pathology labs to conduct these tests.
As Hospicio lacks the facility to conduct these tests, the Hospital authorities via a letter to the Health department have requested to include these tests in the Deen Dayal Swasthya Sewa Yojana to provide patients with some respite.
However, the Government, they said has not paid heed to their request.
"The staff at the Pathology laboratory in the hospital is overburdened and ill-equipped,” a Hospicio official informed.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Hospicio lacks machines to conduct basic scans and tests and as such people are referred to private labs to carry out the same.
Besides this, 5 medical officers’ posts are vacant, and posting of doctors at PHCs and UHCs has reduced the staff strength. Patients from these health centres are ultimately referred to the Hospicio for further treatment.
TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai has got the CT scan machine sanctioned by MP Narendra Sawaikar through MPLAD funds, which will be arriving soon.
