Are diagnostic centres overcharging patients?
Vimal Sumbly
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 19
Are diagnostic centres in Ludhiana overcharging the patients? The question has assumed significance in view of the massive price cuts announced by one of the leading diagnostic centres in Ludhiana recently. The centre in front-page advertisements in various newspapers announced the slashing of rates between 40 and 85 per cent for various tests.

The rates have been mainly reduced for the super-speciality tests like the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the CT scan. The MRI test earlier used to cost around Rs 5,000 and the CT scan around Rs 2,000. Now the rates, as announced by the centre, have come to half this amounts.

This has obviously placed other diagnostic centres in a fix. So far the rates have been more or less uniform. Given the amount of rate cuts reduced by the centre it is likely that more other centres may also be forced to cut their charges.

The owner of the centre, which announced the cut in the rates, has been maintaining that since he had completed the payment of some outstanding dues to the banks most of his financial liabilities were over. And now he wanted to pass on the benefit to the patients.

On the other hand, the owners of other diagnostic centres, who also provide similar services have been claiming that they will not be able to sustain themselves on these rates. They alleged that it was out of sheer competition that the prices had been slashed by the particular centre and not for the reasons outlined by him.

While there are several diagnostic centres which provide CT scan facility, there are only four which provide the MRI facility. These include Arora Diagnostics, Sigma, Appolo and Satlej Hospital. All these centres have hithertofore been doing phenomenal business. In fact, medical service has emerged like a profit-making industry in Ludhiana. Contrary to the slump in the market, the medical industry has grown by leaps and bounds.

The owner of another diagnostic centre pointed out, the slashed rates quoted by the diagnostic centre were for a particular branch. The owner disclosed that the diagnostic centre (which issued the advertisement about the slashed rates) has opened another branch and the slashed rates apply at that branch only. He revealed that the rates remain the same for the main (old) branch of the centre.

Like at other places, a considerable amount is paid to the doctors who refer the patients to a particular centre as the referral fee. The referral fee is claimed to be as much as 50 per cent of the total amount charged by the diagnostic centres. The cut in the rates of the investigations like MRI and CT scan is bound to have its impact on the referral fee.

Several consumer rights activists and social organisations have already urged the district administration to fix the fee for these expensive tests. They pointed out the advertisement proved that the rates of these tests were highly inflated and needed to be regulated. They said if one centre could offer the test for Rs 2,500 only, why the other centres could not do so.

Health Department employees on strike
Our Correspondent

Ludhiana, July 19
Employees of the Health Department here went on an indefinite strike today at the Civil Surgeon’s Office, demanding stay of transfer orders of Mr Major Singh, a supervisor. The call for strike was given by the Joint Action Committee of Health Department employees.

Mr Sukhwinder Singh, chairman of the committee, in a statement said the employees of the anti-larva wing had levelled false allegations against Mr Major Singh. According to them, Mr Major Singh had complained to his superiors against some “indisciplined” employees of the wing. To settle scores with the supervisor, the said workers had lodged a complaint against him a copy of which was sent to the Chief Minister.

The employees said that Dr Joginder Singh, Director, Health Services, transferred Mr Major Singh to Machhiwara on July 3. “We met the Civil Surgeon and tried to portray real picture of the case”, said Mr Sukhwinder Singh. The action committee members also took up the matter with the Director, Health Services, who promised that the transfer orders would be stayed.

Ludhiana, July 19
Taking serious notice of the increasing instances of stacking rice husk meant to be used as industrial fuel on road sides and public places outside the factory buildings, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has directed the Joint Commissioner of Municipal Corporation to lodge an FIR against the defaulting factory owners after a personal inspection of the sites on Monday positively.

Disposing of a complaint by Mr Bishamber Lal, president, Sunder Nagar Shopkeepers Association, on encroachments along roads by factory owners in the area, Mr Sandhu, while presiding over the weekly sangat darshan programme in the Bachat Bhavan here today, asked MC officials to accompany the complainant and visit the encroached sites.

On the complaint that stray cattle were causing damage to crops in Kila Raipur, Mr Sandhu issued instructions to the Deputy Director, Animal Husbandry, to make proper arrangements for shifting the cattle to an appropriate place. Other complaints taken up at the sangat darshan programme related to the damage to crops caused by a drain during rains in Agwar Lopon village; unlawful construction of road by panchayat and PWD on the land belonging to Mr Darshan Singh of Upal village; and an attempt to grab the land of Mr Surinder Pal Singh, an NRI and presently residing in Model Town locality.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the MC officials to probe the complaint that the sites developed for parking of vehicles in the Dholewal area were being used by motor workshops to repair the vehicles. The complainant was asked to report back on the matter after two weeks.

Mr Sandhu directed the government officials to scrupulously follow the instructions regarding conducting of inquiry into all complaints in the presence of the complainants. The officials were also asked to dispose of public complaints on priority basis.