960416

JPMC to introduce

'nominal charges'

for facilities

KARACHI: With a view to generate revenue at hospital level and justify demand for enhanced budgetary allocations for Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre (JPMC), the institution would gradually introducing user charges for the available medical examination facilities.

This was stated by Director, JPMC, Dr. I.H. Bhatti talking to APP here on Tuesday. He maintained that whatever fees will be charged from patients would still be comparatively lesser than the rates at private organizations.

He said that under a gradual process the scheme is being introduced at the Out Patients Department (OPD) of the hospital where the practice of offering examination facilities ranging from X-rays to Ultrasound and I.V.P (Intra-venous picture) free-of-cost was very often misused, denying the needy patients of the facility.

"There have been incidents where in local private laboratories bring bulk of specimens, and get them examined free-of-cost at JPMC labs, while charging high rates for the same from their clients,"

To a question Dr. Bhatti said this policy also aims to benefit the needy patients who are in no position to avail services offered at private institutions.

According to him, since it is not difficult to assess the financial position of patients coming to OPDs, it would be upto the discretion of the doctors on duty to decide whether even nominal fee is to be charged or not.

During his interview the JPMC Director also mentioned recent renovation of various departments of the hospital, being equipped with most modern gadgets offering large number of patients all requisite facilities under one roof.

" It has therefore become all the more necessary to ensure that they are well maintained", he said.-APP