KGMU teachers’ assn seeks control of pvt diagnostic services run on its campus

KGMU Teachers’ Association (KGMU TA) has urged chief minister Yogi Adityanath to intervene and get all diagnostic facilities that are presently run by private players on KGMU campus be shifted under university administration. This will bring down cost of treatment for poor patients, they said.

“Companies are here to do business and not charity. If services are run by KGMU then it will save the margin that goes as profit to private players,” said KGMU teachers’ association (KGMU TA).

In the letter to the CM, the association mentioned despite the state government extending financial support in crores of rupees, the medical university fails to cater to patients with facilities at low price. Majority services such as CT scan, MRI, x-ray, ultrasound, pathology and even pharmacy is in the hands of private firms.

“The companies might be taking least profit from here but they earn with the volume of patients. The fact is only machines are installed while doctors and residents give their services at these private set up as well,” said Dr Santosh Kumar adding: “If same machines are run by KGMU the profit margin will be transferred to patient in shape of cheaper services/facilities.”

He said the CAG report in February 2016 had also mentioned the same about services on campus in its report.

“This might require some additional budget that the state government can help to bring down cost of treatment,” he said. The KGMU TA also criticised previous V-Cs for increasing the involvement of private players.