Lack of Thyroid Facility a Burden on the Poor

The Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here deprived of a thyroid function test facility for several years. The diagnostic test costing ₹400 at private laboratories is burning holes in people’s pockets. Reshakiran Shendye, head of the department of biochemistry said the machine, estimated to cost ₹40 lakh, was proposed to the state government and was expected to arrive in two to three months. “If not in the next few months, it will definitely be procured before March end.” The GMCH receives patients from nearly 20 districts and most of them come from financially weak backgrounds. Over the last year or so, the hospital has been facing shortage of medicines as the outstanding bills of previous localized purchases are unpaid and the centralized drug procurement system through Haffkine Bio-Pharmaceuticals Corporation Ltd has not been regularized.

The patients suffering due to drug shortage and frequent stoppages of diagnostic equipment like CT scan and MRI machines are also forced to get the crucial thyroid function test done from outside laboratories by paying ₹300 to 400. Sunita Shelar, a patient said that it not only was an additional burden on the people but also caused huge inconvenience as the patients seeking treatment at the hospital were forced to go out and give blood sample and collect the report later. The old thyroid function test machine had stopped working around 10 years ago, Shendye said. “Due to the old make, its parts were not readily available and it would cost up to 12 lakh for repair. We have proposed for a new machine which is approved under the PG upgradation budget of the district planning committee. Constant follow up is being done on the proposal.” Once the machine arrived it would facilitate all hormone tests, she added. – TOI