Srinagar, Sep 14: What could deal a severe blow to the poor patients visiting the SK Institute of Medical Sciences here, a proposal to hike the medical tests’ fee by a considerable margin at the health institute is being considered for implementation—something which has drawn flak from patients and officials alike.
 Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that the proposal to go for 300 to 400 percent price hike in fee for medical tests, carried out inside the institute, is now being “seriously considered for implementation amid criticism from insiders.”
 According to SKIMS officials, it would be grossly unfair to go for the hike, especially in view of the visit to the institute by people from far-flung areas of Kashmir Valley. "It would be a completely unjustifiable move. The authorities can’t unilaterally go for hike in fee by 300 to 400 percent. They must justify this move which would of course deal a severe blow to poor patients," said an official, privy to the proposal.
 According to sources, the proposal, if implemented, would mean that a particular laboratory test which presently costs Rs 100 would cost Rs 400 or 500.
 “The same would be applicable to other tests which are already a burden on poor patients in terms of their fee,” they said.
 Insiders say a lot many medicos, who hold a say within the institute, are “deadly against” the move. But the authorities are allegedly considering the proposal actively for unknown reasons.
 Ideally, while the J&K Government is boasting of easing the suffering of people vis-à-vis healthcare, such proposals puncture the claims.
 “It is time for the Government to consider minimizing costs of tests so that the poor people don’t suffer. But here something reverse is happening. This certainly raises a question mark over the Government’s commitment to help ease sufferings of people living in far-flung areas,” the SKIMS officials said.
 When contacted the Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Zargar said there was initially no idea of hiking the prices even though the file had been lying with him for over a year now. "There is as such no possibility of hiking the prices by 300 to 400 percent. The proposal is lying with me but we are not interested in implementing it," he told Greater Kashmir.
 Dr Zargar however said “if at all there is hike of any kind, it would be nominal. The nature of the hike would be that if a test/investigation/culture costs Rs 10, it would cost Rs 12-15 but not beyond.”

Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 14 Sep 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 15 Sep 2012 00:00:00 IST