Delhi-based lab to manage diagnostic services in state

Times of India, Nov 54, 2012
By Ashok Pradhan, 

BHUBANESWAR: Odisha government is planning to handover diagnostic services in state-run hospitals to HLL Lifecare, a central government enterprise soon. 

Hindlabs, HLL Lifecare's diagnostic services division, will open and manage laboratories in the hospitals. "The government has already approved the proposal after a suggestion from the central government. Hopefully, we will sign an MoU with Hindlabs by another few weeks. The state government will provide building space while Hindlabs will engage its manpower and install equipment," health secretary Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra told TOI. 

In the first phase, the government is planning to facilitate Hindlabs to open six referral laboratories at SCB Medical College and Hospital, Capital Hospital and district headquarters hospitals at Bhawanipatna, Baripada, Koraput and Sambalpur. Besides, 13 district headquarters hospitals at Khurda, Nayagarh, Puri, Phulbani, Bhawanipatna, Balangir, Nuapada, Keonjhar, Malkangiri, Sundargarh, Deogarh, Kendrapada, Bhadrak and Jagatsinghpur will have feeder laboratories.

While in other hospitals Hindlabs will replace the existing diagnostic facilities, in case of SCB Medical College it will help in consolidation and gap-filling. 

The feeder laboratories will be equipped with basic equipment and tests such as biochemistry, hematology and electrolyte analyzers while the referral laboratories will be capable of doing all kind of pathological, microbial and radiological diagnoses. "We will ensure that 100 per cent diagnostic tests prescribed by government doctors are done in these laboratories. Action will be taken against the laboratory if it refuses any test and against doctors who entertain tests from outside these laboratories," the health secretary said. 

Mohapatra said since laboratories in government hospitals are not well equipped currently, private laboratories were fleecing patients. The new step will end doctor-chemist nexus and help in faster and periodic upgradation of laboratories, he said. 

Mohapatra said the government will control the cost of diagnosis. In case of poor patients, whose diagnosis and treatment costs are borne from government sources, the Hindlabs will send bills to respective 'rogi kalyan samitis' for reimbursement. Technicians working in these hospitals will be redeployed in sub-divisional hospitals.