BMC to charge for lab tests in peripheral hospitals

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to charge for lab tests to be carried out at its peripheral hospitals as well as in dispensaries. Earlier, the civic body had planned to provide all these tests for free.

Around 139 types of laboratory tests involving blood glucose and urine tests will be made available at the BMC's peripheral units and in dispensaries to ease the pressure on major hospitals. However, the BMC had earlier planned to provide all these tests for free. A senior civic official is of the view that some amount must be collected from the beneficiaries. "If we provide all these tests for free, there is a possibility that a nexus may be created between doctors and contractors and as a result, patients may be suggested unnecessary tests," the official said.

The civic administration has decided to collect money ranging between Rs 50 to Rs 150 for different tests.

As part of the ambitious scheme 'Aapli Chikitsa', the civic body decided to bring medical facilities to every doorstep. Now, under the same scheme, the BMC's health department will strengthen its peripheral hospitals and dispensaries.

'Aapli Chikitsa' is an initiative of the BMC to follow the 'Mohalla' model introduced by the Delhi government. "Problems faced by patients will be screened at Aapli Chikitsa and accordingly treatment procedures will be advised," an official from the health department said. He further added, "If the doctor advises further investigation, necessary tests will be conducted and patients will get reports on the very same day at these dispensaries. He or she does not need to go to the KEM or any other major hospital." The civic body had already allotted Rs 16 crore to this project in the 2018-19 budget.

A proposal to award the contract to carry out around 139 types of tests, both basic and advanced, will come up in BMC's standing committee meet. As per the proposal, the civic body will hire private laboratories who will collect samples and provide reports. Patients will not have to pay for all these pathological tests. However, the BMC is set to spend around Rs 26 crore in a year or Rs 79 crore in four years on this scheme. The proposal will be tabled next week during the standing committee meet.