SGPGI raises charges for vital scans and tests, poor patients bear the brunt

Lucknow— Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute (SGPGI) in Lucknow, a premier super-speciality hospital renowned for its exceptional healthcare services, has raised its charges for vital scans and tests in its Radiology and Pathology departments. This price hike ranges from 10% to 50%, impacting critical diagnostic procedures such as CT Scans, MRIs, Ultra Sounds, X-rays, blood tests, and biopsies.

The recent increase in charges for crucial scans and tests at the Institute has come after a gap of 15 years. This move also follows a substantial hike of approximately 50% in the cost of medical devices and products such as surgical gloves, needles, cotton, and bandages, which was implemented last year.

While the hospital administration has justified the fee hike by citing the rise in raw material costs, patients from impoverished sections of society are undoubtedly feeling the burden.

No health card means out of pocket medical expenses

Jagannath, a mason from Bachrawan village in the neighbouring Raebareli district, has expressed concern over the recent increase in charges for medical tests. He has also mentioned that he has not yet received his Ayushman card. According to him, it is challenging to manage the increased medical expenses from his own pocket, given his financial situation as a mason.

Treatment Cost Still Cheaper

However, Mobeen a patient from Gonda says “ I am not aware of the increase in the costs but I think despite the increase in costs, the tests here will be cheaper as compared to laboratories outside.” He said, the tests that costs around rs 400 outside , could be get done at the SGPGI for 110 rupees, and hence he asserted that even the present increase would be affordabale for poor people as compared to market prices.

About SGPGIMS

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences has been established under the State Legislature Act of Uttar Pradesh in 1983 and is an autonomous institute. It was created with the aim of providing medical care, education and research. The institute is a super speciality care centre, having more than 1000 beds and intakes patients from all over the country. The multi-specialty hospital is a preferred choice for treatment of the VIPs including the Governor Anandiben Patel, and many like her from all over the country.