Govt fixes rates for 72 medical tests, diagnostic services in J&K

‘Pvt hospitals, nursing homes, clinics not under purview’

JAMMU: Taking a serious note of series of complaints regarding variation in rates and overcharging for various kinds of clinical investigations at different Government run medical institutions and hospitals in the State, the Governor’s administration has finally come out with a fixed rate structure for as many as 72 different medical tests (investigations) and diagnostic services.

Official sources informed The News Now that the Department of Health & Medical Education had received a large number of complaints and grievances that the government run health institutions and hospitals are charging differential rates for carrying out various hospital investigations and procedures etc.

“Keeping in view the gravity of the issue, a Committee was constituted vide Government Order No. 472-HME of 2018, dated 16.08.2018, for finalization of rate structure required thereof,” they said, adding, “In this context, several follow up meetings and communications were carried out to arrive at a uniform acceptable rate structure.”

“After evaluating the inputs received from various hospitals, especially from Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial (JLNM) Hospital Srinagar and Government Hospital Gandhi Nagar Jammu, the Department of Health & Medical Education worked out the rate structure for 72 different investigations / clinical observations etc in the first instance,” the sources further said.

“The sanction has been accorded to implement the uniform rate structure for various hospital investigations carried out in the health institutions falling under the administrative control of Director Health Services Jammu and Director Health Services Kashmir,” they maintained and added, “The left out investigations / diagnostic services shall be carried out strictly as per the rate structure being followed in Government SMGS Hospital Jammu and Government SMHS Hospital Srinagar.”

Talking to The News Now in this regard, Dr. Samir Mattoo, Director, Health Services, Jammu, admitted the fact that there were numerous complaints about differential rate structure and overcharging at different hospitals in the State.

“A Committee was constituted in July 2018, which assessed the rates being charged at different hospitals in the State. After a series of review meetings and communication process, the Committee arrived at a consensus to finalize the fixed rate structure for as many as 72 different medical tests and investigations etc in the government hospitals,” he said.

When asked whether this new fixed rate structure will be implemented in private hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories and clinics etc in the State, Dr. Mattoo said, “No, for the time being there is no such direction as the said order has to be strictly implemented in only those health institutions and hospitals, which come under the administrative control of Director, Health Services, Jammu and Srinagar.”

Pertinently, the 72 medical tests / investigations along with their fixed rates include Blood Sugar
(Glucose) - free, Blood Sugar (F and PP) – free, G.T.T. – Rs. 50.00, Blood Urea – Rs. 15.00, Sr. Creatinine – Rs. 15.00, KFT (Urea + Creatinine) – Rs. 40.00, LFT (Bil-T +Bil- D+ALP+SGOT +SGPT +ALB+ T.P) – Rs. 175.00, Sr. Bilurobin (Total) – free, Sr. Bilurobin (Direct) – free, Alkaline Phosphates – Rs. 20.00, SGOT – Rs. 20.00, SGPT – Rs. 20.00, Albumen - Rs. 10.00, Total Protein – Rs. 15.00, Lipid profile (Chol+ T.G+HDL +LDL) – Rs. 120.00, Sr. Uric Acid Rs. 15.00, Sr. Amylase – Rs. 35.00, Sr. Calcium – Rs. 15.00, Cholesterol - Rs. 30.00, Triglycerides – Rs. 30.00, HbAlC - Rs. 150.00, Sr. Lipase – Rs. 150.00, CBC (03 Part) – Rs. 40.00, CBC (03 Part + ESR) – Rs. 60.00, CBC (03 Part+ESR+EBF) – Rs. 70.00, CBC (OS Part) – Rs. 80.00, Platelet Count – Rs. 15.00, ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) – Rs. 10.00, PBF for MP – Rs. 10.00, P.C.V. – Rs. 10.00, B.T +C.T. – free, Hemoglobin (Hb) – free, TLC+DLC – free, Blood Grouping – free, Reticulocyte Count – Rs. 20.00, Absolute Easonophil Count – Rs. 20.00, PBF – Rs. 10.00, Thyroid Profile(T3,TR4,TSH) – Rs. 150.00, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Test (T.S.H) – Rs. 100.00, Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test (F.S.H) – Rs. 110.00, Luteinizing Hormone Test (L.H) – Rs. 110.00, Prolactine Test (PRL) – Rs. 110.00, Prostate Specific Antigen Test (P.S.A) – Rs. 120.00, Cancer Antigen 125 Ovary Test (CA 125) – Rs. 350.00, Troponin 'T' – Rs. 400.00, T3 – Rs. 25.00, T4 – Rs. 25.00, Arterial Blood Gases (ABG) & Venous Blood Gases (VBG) – Rs. 200.00, Electrolytes Na+, K+ - Rs. 50.00, HBS Ag Card Method – Rs. 40.00, HCV Card Method – Rs. 70.00, VDRL/ Syphils Card Method – Rs. 30.00, HBSAg ELISA – Rs. 60.00, HCV ELISA – Rs. 100.00, HAV (IGM) – Rs. 110.00, HEV (IGM) Rs. 110.00, Antistreptolysin (ASO) – Rs. 40.00, C. Reactive Protein (C.R.P) – Rs. 30.00, Widal Test – Rs. 20.00, R.F – Rs. 20.00, HIV Card Method – free, HIV ELISA – free, Body fluid CSF, Ascetic fluid etc with Sugar and Protein – Rs. 50.00, Urine Examination Routine – free, 24 Hour Urinary Examination – Rs. 20.00, Urine for Urobilinogen – Rs. 20.00, Urine for Acetone – Rs. 20.00, Urine for Gravindex Test – Rs. 15.00, Urine for Occult Blood – Rs. 15.00, Semen Analysis – free, Stool Examination – free and Stool Examination for Occult blood – Rs. 15.00.

“If any of the above mentioned medical tests / clinical investigations are carried out free of charges under any other scheme, the same shall continue to be so,” the sources further added in reference to the government order.

It may be recalled here that the H&ME Department had issued instructions vide Circular No. 02-HME of 2018, dated 09.08.2018, enjoining upon all health institutions of the State to strictly follow the rate structure being in force for Government SMHS Hospital Srinagar, which were though not taken care of by the administrations of concerned hospitals.