District Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi has banned the free laboratory tests of poor patients.
Sources said that in DHQ Rawalpindi, more than 1,100 patients come from different cities and are awarded treatment per day in the outdoor patient department (OPD) where dozens of patients have been recommended with laboratory tests.
Several poor patients due to a lack of money requested to hospital staff for free tests, but in the last few days, all patients except some high-profile patients were prohibited from free tests. Furthermore, government fee has been demanded from patients to hold tests.
Due to this, not only the revenue increased, but also there is a notable decrease in tests and patients coming from different areas suffered a lot.
There are no wheelchairs for disabled patients in OPD. There is only one x-ray machine, and the ultra sound machine in the gynaecology ward has not worked for a long while. The patients are now forced to pay Rs 1,200 for private testing.
On the orders of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, air conditions were installed in all the wards but, they have failed to function properly in the different wards of the hospital.
Talking to the news agency, DMS Dr Irfan Khilji said that one doctor had retired and the other was on a leave. Due to these reasons patients have difficulties in holding free laboratory tests, he explained.
He further claimed that he has allowed free tests to patients who come to him with a request.
