Srinagar: Terming the government hospitals as unaffordable to poor patients, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) President, Dr Nissar-ul-Hassan Monday said that poor patients are charged hefty sums on tests, procedures and medicines in government-run hospitals.

DAK in a statement issued to KNS said that government-run hospitals are no more affordable for poor patients and they are no less than private hospitals when it comes to spending money.

Dr Nissar said that poor patients visit government hospitals with a hope that they will get treated without spending hefty money in the hospital, but to their disappointment they have to pay huge money to meet their health needs.

“It is painful to see poor patients leaving hospitals without treatment because they cannot afford expenses of tests and medicines,” DAK president said.

He further said that most of the times in wards and ICU’s, doctors have to compromise on treatment by prescribing cheaper medicines to patients as majority of them cannot afford required costly drugs.

“Despite tall claims of the government that they will provide free medicines, tests to the poor patients visiting the hospitals across Kashmir, the hospitals are charging hefty sum to the patients thereby the claims proves hoax on the ground,” he said.

In SMHS hospital cardiac patients have to pay 1, 20,000 rupees on pacing 70,000 on angioplasty and 30,000 on radiofrequency ablation.

For coronary angiography and electrophysiological studies patients are charged 5500 rupees each.

Contrast enhanced CT scan costs Rs 3700 to patients and CT angiography 4200.

 MR angiography and MR spectroscopy and contrast enhanced MRI costs 3700 each.

If a patient wants to correct his refractory error by LASIK (Laser eye surgery), he/she has to pay 10,000.

The most expensive area is Intensive Care Unit where patients have to spend lacs on tests and medicines.

From simple tests like CBC, KFT, LFT, Lipid profile, thyroid function, Urine examination, X-ray’s, ECG to hospital stay, patients are charged.

We hear ‘mountain of words’ from government that free treatment is provided to poor, but on ground healthcare for poor in government hospitals is unaffordable. (KNS)