At RG Kar: Kin allege patient charged for free diagnostic tests

Kolkata: Family members of Masuda Bibi, who was admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with fever have alleged that they were asked to pay for some diagnostic tests by the staff members of hospital lab.

The patient's family members alleged that they were asked by the hospital staff to visit a nearby private diagnostic centre to get these test done.

They alleged that they were told by the hospital it would take a long time to get the tests done at the hospital and urged them to get it done at the private clinic.

The incident created a furor at the hospital after the family members of the woman start protesting against the staff members. The family members of the patient said following the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's instruction all the health services and diagnostics are provided at no cost at the government-run hospitals and the state health department has been spending a huge

amount of money for the

health scheme introduced by the government.

Patients are often denied the facilities by a section of staff members of the hospital, who collude with the private diagnostic centres in the state, alleged a relative of the woman.

The patient was admitted to the hospital a few days ago with fever. As her condition deteriorated the doctors asked her to undertake some tests to determine her disease.

The patients' family members took the prescription to the hospital's diagnostic centre where they were allegedly told to pay money for the tests.

The staff members also allegedly advised them to go to the private diagnostic centre if they were in hurry.

After the issue was raised by the family members of the patient, the hospital authorities started looking into the matter.