Karnataka's first 24x7 lab soon at PMSSY hospital

Bengaluru: Soon, patients visiting Victoria Hospital may not be referred to private healthcare labs for CT scan and other tests, as the government-run hospital may soon open a centre to provide such facilities 24x7 on its premises under the the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

The hospital will open the lab and diagnostic facility by the month-end. “We are inaugurating a round-the-clock radiology and diagnostic centre, which will provide scanning facilities for patients at any time. It is the first such lab in any government hospital,” said Dr P.G. Girish, special officer, PMSSY.
The lab will conduct all biochemistry, pathology, CT scan, MRI scans, X-ray and ultrasound facilities for patients.

“The services provided at the centre are approximately 20 per cent cheaper than at Victoria Hospital or any other government hospital,” he said. The lab is being run in partnership with a private lab, Matrix Solutions.

Being run under public-private partnership, the private company will provide the equipment, while the government would give space in the hospital to run the service. With manpower and resource shortage, this partnership comes as good news for patients visiting government hospitals.

“With the present manpower, we can run only from 9 am to 4 pm. This partnership will help us extend our service to any emergency patients at any time,” he said.

The multi-specialty hospital sees over 600 patients at its OPD and over 300 new patients come in every day for a spectrum of treatment, which requires one or more tests.

“With such a large number of patients requiring tests, this lab would help cut the waiting list which is huge in any other government hospital,” he said.
“The services are open for patients from Victoria, Bowring and Vanivilas hospitals. The services and record maintained will be fully computerised. “It will be the first hospital in the state to provide 24x7 lab services,” Dr Girish said.