Shimla
Himachal’s government hospitals are going to stop the free tests for outpatients. A fee of Rs. 10 would be incurred in the while for the slip as well. The preparations for this have been initiated by the health department. To set the fee for the test, the department has submitted a proposal to the government. The government will make the ultimate choice. Nonetheless, free testing will be available to already hospitalized patients who are receiving therapy.
The department argues that ever since the facility of free tests has been started, people are getting full-body tests done every month or after three months. This is increasing the burden on the state government. There are also long queues of people in laboratories to get the test report. At present, around 130 free tests are being done in Himachal.
In Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), money has started to be charged for ECG and ultrasound for outdoor patients. Now the government is considering stopping free tests. During the tenure of the previous government, a free test facility was made available to the people in hospitals. Apart from medical colleges, labs of private companies have been set up in civil hospitals and community health centers. Patients are tested free of cost in these laboratories, but the government has to bear the cost of these tests. Every year, the state government pays crores of rupees worth of bills to the company for the tests.
The government has also started auditing the huge bills under the Himcare scheme. Chief Minister Sukhu had talked about getting the audit done during the budget session. Actually, there has been a scam of crores in Himcare. There are allegations that bills of thousands were made for eye operations and colds. Bills of lakhs have also been made for hernia operations. Doctors have registered in the Himcare scheme and built huge hospital buildings. There has been a lot of debate between the ruling party and the opposition on this matter in the assembly.
The matter of charging fees for medical tests from outpatients is under consideration. A final decision has not been taken on this yet—M. Sudha Devi, Health Secretary.
