Free diagnostic tests at 19 govt centres, says KCR
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao directed officials to open 19 diagnostic centres for the benefit of economically deprived sections in select major government hospitals and district headquarters across the state on Monday.
The centres will conduct 57 types of tests free of cost, a release from the Chief Mini-ster’s Office (CMO) stated on Saturday.
Rao wanted the diagnostic centres that are ready to be opened in Mahbubnagar, Nizamabad, Sangareddy, Medak, Jangaon, Mulugu, Mahbubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jagtial, Siddipet, Nalgonda, Khammam, Sircilla, Vikarabad, Nirmal, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Gadwal and Asifabad districts and in major government hospitals.
He spoke to medical and health department officials on Saturday and enquired about the Covid-19 situation in the state.
The tests include for Covid, blood, urine, diabetes, hypertension, cardiac ailments, orthopaedic, liver, kidney, thyroid related X-ray, biochemistry, and pathology, among others.
Chandrasekhar Rao said that besides general tests, certain specialty tests, which are expensive, would also be conducted free of cost. Results would be sent to the patients’ mobile phones. He said expensive equipment with state-of-theart technology like those available in corporate hospitals, Osmania, Gandhi and NIMS, would be installed in the centres. They include automatic immunoassay analyser, five-part cell counter, fully automatic urine analyser, ECG, 2D Echo, ultrasound, digital x-ray and other imaging testing units.
Officials informed that such an equipment can produce 400 to 800 reports in an hour. Based on individual requirement, CT scans will also be provided.
Elaborating, Rao said “There are four types of expenses for treatment. Transportation costs to reach the hospital, doctor’s fee, medicines, diagnostics, expenses on inpatient, and transportation charges to carry deceased and funeral expenses.”
For emergency services, the government is running 428 ambulances under 108 services. Around 300 vehicles are earmarked for pregnant women under the Amma Vadi Scheme.
The government has ensured arrangements to send samples of poor patients undergoing treatment in PHCs to the nearest centre for speedy testing and reports.
The Chief Minister said, “Medical treatment is becoming costlier. The poor are forced to sell properties to get treatment. These days every other person is suffering from hypertension and diabetes and needs to get examined. Tests for the heart, liver, kidney, and lungs, cancer and thyroid have become a necessity for the poor. Corona has joined the list and it needs several tests. Government doctors write prescriptions but for diagnostic tests, people are forced to go to private clinics and spend thousands of rupees. This has become a huge burden on the poor. Our endeavour is to bring financial relief to those aggrieved sections."