The Hindu : Karnataka News : Waiting to be used

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 13, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Waiting to be used

Costly equipment at the district hospital is
lying unused

THE CHITRADURGA district hospital is one of the 10 in the State to have a state-of-the-art laboratory known as Regional Diagnostic Laboratory (RDL).The objective behind setting it up was to provide laboratory facility to poor people at an affordable cost. The Government spent crores of rupees on this.

The laboratory equipment costs nearly Rs. 2 crore. They were brought here some 10 months ago. But unfortunately, owing to lack of staff to operate it, the equipment is lying idle. Those meant for pathological and microbiological tests are not being used at all.

“We want to use the equipment, but are finding it difficult to get the staff to operate it. Because of this, cases are being referred to private laboratories,” says district surgeon G. Kamareddy.He said that if the hospital gets the required people, then many patients could save money spent on tests outside. Tests are done free for BPL card holders.

It is learnt that as people who operate the equipment are given higher incentives in private laboratories, many technicians are reluctant to join the government hospital.

“However, we have held discussions with some persons in private hospitals to visit here at least three days a week. But we are yet to receive their consent,” Dr. Kamareddy said.However, blood and sugar tests are done in the laboratory itself. The hospital receives over 60 cases for laboratory tests every day.In view of the present state of the laboratory, the Government was planning to hand it over to NGOs on contract basis, he said, adding “the plan has not materialised yet.”

Firoz Rozindar in Chitradurga

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