Dengue test: Pvt labs sting patients, defy health dept fiat

Ludhiana: Private diagnostic centres and hospitals are making a killing despite the district health department's notification asking them not to charge more than Rs 600 for dengue serology test.
A laboratory near DMC is charging Rs 700, the test costs Rs 900 at a Model Town centre and some labs in Kitchlu Nagar and Tagore Nagar are charging Rs 1,000! The practice is rampant across the city.
Gurmeet Kaur Chugh, a resident of Model Town, said, "I took my daughter to a nearby private hospital as she had been down with fever since last week. The doctor asked me to get her dengue serology and a few other tests conducted at the hospital itself. It charged Rs 900 for dengue test alone."
Rajinder Pal Singh, a resident of Chaura Bazaar, said, "I had been suffering from viral fever for two days. A doctor recommended dengue test. I paid Rs 1,000 for dengue serology test at a private laboratory in Tagore Nagar."
Chief medical officer Dr Reenu Chhatwal said, "We had sent the notification to all diagnostic centres and hospitals, directing them not to charge more than Rs 600 for dengue serology test. It was published in newspapers too. Besides, letters and mails were sent to more than 100 private laboratories. If a patient complaints against the malpractice in writing, we will take it up with the state authorities and strict action will be taken against the defaulter."
The test is done free of cost at civil hospitals.
District epidemiologist Dr Ramesh Bhagat said many of the private practitioners were not even coordinating with the health department. "Some laboratories do not apprise us of positive cases. And there are a few others that are not maintaining the case data. As a result, it becomes difficult for us to track the patient information, especially in case of a casualty. Immediate action, like fogging, is required if a patient tests positive."
On over-charging by labs, Dr Bhagat said, "The department has not received any written complaint. If we receive one, strict action will be taken against the guilty. We are discussing the issue with the Indian Medical Association representatives. The department will also take it up with deputy commissioner Ravi Bhagat."