Notice served to doctor for opting private lab
Source: Chronicle News Service
Thoubal, April 01 2024:
A doctor of Thoubal District Hospital, who was found referring tests on a patient to a private laboratory, has been issued show cause notice along with process initiated to take legal action against the doctor, informed Thoubal DC Ahanthem Subash.
Addressing media persons at the district hospital on Monday, DC Subash acknowledged social media reports of a child admitted at Thoubal district hospital advised to undergo certain laboratory tests in a private laboratory regardless of facility for the said tests available in the hospital free of cost.
He further said that the matter was investigated by hospital's medical superintendent Dr Ruhini Kumar and the doctor involved in the case has been identified following which a show cause notice has been issued.
Necessary legal actions will also be initiated against the doctor, he assured.
DC Subash also stated that the state government is giving special priority to the health sector.
Krishna Laboratory which has been identified by the state government to conduct tests free of cost, has also been opened in Thoubal district hospital.
The lab is presently providing 133 different tests free of cost round the clock.
Any medical professional indulging in referring tests to private laboratories shall have to face the consequences, he cautioned.
Chipping in Dr Ruhini Kumar said that the patient, a child from Lamjao was admitted at Thoubal district hospital with fever.
The doctor concerned asked the patient's family to conduct some tests in a private laboratory which cost them around Rs 1500 .
The matter was highlighted on social media (Facebook) by father of the patient.
Though the post has been found removed when checked on Monday, the identity of the doctor involved has been established through verification of the Nurse's record book, he disclosed, adding that show cause notice has been issued against the doctor.
The medical superintendent further informed that the said doctor had advised the patient to get the tests for CBC, Reactive protein and Typhidot-Typhoid, all available free of cost in the hospital, in a private lab, he maintained.
An order strictly prohibiting doctors and staff of Thoubal district hospital against referring for tests available in the hospital had been issued on November 14 and December 14 last year, he added.