Limited screening slots delay treatment at RGGGH

Such is the situation that many among those who come here are forced to return without undergoing the screening procedures, as hospital authorities say that only limited number of procedures can be performed in a day. The hospital receives patients from the city suburbs, other parts of the State, and even some from the neighbouring States.

The old radiology block at the hospital was renovated in May 2018. Many other facilities, including CT scan and doppler units were also upgraded from 4-slice CT scan to 16-slice CT. Three units of 16-slice CT scan were installed to improve the accuracy and speed of screening, while two colour doppler units costing Rs 46 lakhs were also installed. However, there has been no improvement in the delivery of services, allege patients.

“I have been admitted at the cardiology department of the hospital for two months now. I was allotted token number for CT scan only four days after seeking approval. The patients who pay the amount for these scans can get it done on the same day or the next day. However, poor people like me, who are dependent on the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), must wait for days to get our tests done,” alleged Shiva Kumar, an in-patient at the hospital.

When asked, doctors at the radiology block said that the patients undergoing treatment at RGGGH under CMCHIS can get screening done only after their claim amount gets approved. Hence, the delay was not their fault, said the hospital management.

“There is a process to check the eligibility of the patients who get treated under the CMCHIS scheme. If they have availed the amount for their treatment, they shall not be eligible to claim the amount for screening. Other issues such as repeated screening or other clarifications are also there. Due to this, it takes time for approving their application,” said senior officials from the CMCHIS office.

Patients complain that even after getting the necessary approvals, they have to stand in queues to get a specific date for the screening procedure. “Patients stand in queues from around 5 am to get the token numbers, while the office opens only at 7 am. I had to stay overnight at the hospital to be able to join the queue, as I have to travel from Nellore and had to get a specific date for screening,” said K Ramya, an out-patient.

The facility for doppler scans, digital x-ray and mammogram being common for in-patients and out-patients adds to the woes of the patients. “The in-patients are prioritised while performing these tests. Being an out-patient, I had to wait for five hours to get the scans done,” said S Rama, a patient from Kancheepuram.

Many patients from Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur and other places away from the city often return without undergoing the tests.

“We perform approximately 75 per cent of the scans for in-patients in a day, as the reports are needed to perform further treatment. Using the two units of the machine, more than 50 MRI scans done daily. There are six units for CT scan machine, using which much more procedures being done now. We have created a separate block for digital x-ray and ultrasound scan for in-patients and out-patients since the facilities were upgraded. We are continuously improvising on the services,” said Dr R Ravi, professor and director of Barnard Institute of Radiology, RGGGH.