Mumbai: The BMC’s ambitious scheme to provide basic and advanced pathology tests at a subsidised rate to Mumbaikars, Aapli Chikitsa, has yet again run into trouble as Krsnaa Diagnostics decided to temporarily stop its services from Tuesday. Pallavi Jain, managing director, of Krsnaa Diagnostics, told The Free Press Journal that one of the two reasons for stopping the services was a delay in releasing payments even after multiple reminders to the corporation.
Statement Of Pallavi Jain, Managing Director Of Krsnaa Diagnostics
“We had to temporarily suspend our services at all the hospitals under BMC after giving sufficient time to the authority to provide us with solutions. Apart from the delay in releasing our payments, we have completed the number of basic and advanced tests that were allocated to us as per our contract terms with the corporation,” she said, explaining they kept intimating the authority about the same for the last six to nine months.
While the corporation is in the tendering process and had requested Krsnaa Diagnostics to continue the services till the process is finalised and the new agency is onboard, Jain said the delay in response and payment towards their outstanding is making it difficult for them to provide their services.
Earlier, Krsnaa Diagnostics had stopped their services temporarily on October 17 because of nonpayment of dues. “BMC officials have already asked us to discontinue a part of testing that is for advanced tests from 11th Nov 2024. They have only asked us to continue with the basic tests, which we are performing. The patients are suffering from this decision of BMC. Our staff is facing the anger of patients because of the same,” Jain added.
About The BMC’s Aapli Chikitsa Scheme
Under the scheme, the corporation outsourced laboratory testing for 190 dispensaries, 107 HBT clinics, all BMC-run maternity homes, and special hospitals to the private laboratory. There are 139 tests that can be done at these centres, of which 101 tests are basic and 38 tests are advanced. The corporation awarded the contract to the diagnostic company last year after it quoted the lowest price (Rs86) for basic pathology tests.
Meanwhile, unaware that the services had been stopped, many patients visited the Aapli Chikitsa on Tuesday but were asked to visit the centres after a few days. A doctor, working in peripheral BMC hospital who has been closely observing the functioning of Aapli Chikitsa said, “It’s time to reassess whether such scheme of Aapli Chikitsa really required, considering the malpractices, like no audit of bills (tests performed), BMC’s own laboratory not doing basic tests and sending them to Aapli Chikitsa, irregularities in test results, unavailability of Aapli Chikitsa technician 24 X 7, etc.”
Krsnaa Diagnostics reported that on average, they receive samples from around 4,000 patients daily from BMC dispensaries, maternity homes and hospitals. They conduct between 35,000 to 40,000 different types of tests. Multiple tests are often prescribed for a single patient. While Vipin Sharma, additional municipal commissioner, BMC was unavailable for comment, a health officer said they are trying to find a solution as the tender process is being done.
