PACKAGE OF COMPLETE BLOOD-TESTS BEING OFFERED AT RUPEES 999 THROUGH SMS: PATHOLOGICAL LABORATORIES SHOULD BE REGULATED

Bureau,Odishabarta

DELHI:Presently there is a flood of SMSs on mobile-phones offering a complete package of so many blood-tests further reduced to just rupees 999 that too with facility to collect blood-samples from residences or work-places of desiring ones. But these SMSs do not give details and addresses of laboratories where blood-tests are to be conducted. Even such messages are on Facebook also.

Either such offers do not come from recognised and government-approved laboratories, or normal pathological laboratories are looting public. Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare should probe into the matter. Those offering such economical packages should be directed to give details of laboratories in SMSs with compulsion to have a proper website of such laboratories.

Union Health Ministry should also develop a software to be compulsorily used by all recognised and approved laboratories including in hospitals, government or private. Every consumer giving samples of blood, urine, stool etc should be given a unique ID and changeable password whereby complete record of tests conducted including done in past may be available from website of the concerned laboratory on click of mouse.

A reputed pathological laboratory of Delhi also covering other cities has dual pricing for medical-tests. Charges for ordinary patients are much higher than those having cards of Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). At least such dual pricing must not be allowed in health-services including for pathological and biochemical tests including blood-tests.

Input;Ms.Madhu