Gandhi doctors against outsourcing lab tests

Hyderabad: The Gandhi Hospital is outsourcing laboratory tests needed for Aarogyasri patients to a private agency angering senior doctors and post-graduate students who feel that the money can be used for repairing the hospital’s lab equipments.

Most of the lab equipment has not been repaired or is dysfunctional due to lack of funds. But now with the outsourcing of diagnosis, the government will be paying the private firm instead of deploying the funds internally.

Angry PG students of microbiology, biochemistry and pathology confronted hospital superintendent Dr Chandrashekar regarding this as they stand to lose hands-on experience.

Post-graduate student Dr Mohammed Imran explained, “A test which will cost only Rs 25 will now fetch the private agency Rs 600. The dysfunctional analysers require servicing.

There is no move to repair them. If this goes on how can a PG student gain experience?”

A senior doctor explained that reagents required for testing are not being purchased. With a private agency setting up shop in the hospital, the fear is that the functioning machines too will soon become useless.

Superintendent Dr Chandrashekar said, “So far, no decision has been taken. It is just a proposal.”

But doctors think otherwise. A senior doctor said, “The tests done at Gandhi Hospital have been under a shadow since long. Earlier, samples were sent outside for testing. Desperate patients paid for them. To stop this, a private diagnostic firm was given space within the complex so that patients do not have to pay.”

But the reimbursement through Aarogyasri will take away a substantial amount, which otherwise could have been used for upgrading hospital facilities.

Anaesthetists’ shortage hits many departments

Hyderabad: The shortage of anesthetists at the Gandhi hospital is creating a lot of problems rendering the newly constructed ophthalmology, paediatrics and ENT operation theatres non-functional.

With nine posts vacant in the anesthesia department, senior doctors say that the hospital’s anesthesia requirements can’t be met.

Five doctors were promoted and posted out in December and since then the shortage has been acute.

The worst hit is the gynaecology ward where 12 surgeries used to be done every day. But since last month, only two operation theatres are functional and only three or four operations are done a day.

This has hit PG students too as the number of cases has declined substantially.