Payment dispute paralyzes medical testing, as private lab ‘Krsna’ suspends operations
Shimla, Jan 11
In a concerning development, patients across the State faced a second consecutive day of disruption as pathological tests and X-rays were abruptly halted after 12 noon. This unexpected disruption follows the cessation of services by the private lab ‘Krsna,’ services of whom have been outsourced by the State government to conduct laboratory tests. The lab has been reported to be operating 600 collection centers across the State.
The sudden cessation of services by Krsna Lab, a prominent player in medical testing in the region, may have left over 3500 to 4000 patients alone at the State hospital IGMC and hundreds more across the state’s medical institutions in a lurch. The lab, which also handles samples from Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Community Health Centers (CHCs), has refrained from taking samples since yesterday, exacerbating the impact on healthcare services.
The root cause of this crisis stems from Krasna Lab’s claim that reportedly the government owes them an outstanding amount of approximately 40 crores, which has been pending for an extended period.
In response to the lab’s decision to suspend operations without prior notice has prompted the Medical Superintendent of IGMC to issue a notice, expressing dissatisfaction with the sudden closure of services.
Reportedly, even a high-level meeting has been underway at the Secretariat throughout the day, chaired by the Health Secretary, to address the escalating situation. Participants in the meeting include officials from the Health Department, the National Health Mission (NHM), and representatives from Krasna Company. The hope is that a resolution can be reached to reinstate essential medical testing services.
Amid the uncertainty, patients and their families are left with no choice but to resort to private labs for essential tests. The Mission Director of NHM, Priyanka Verma, has assured the public in media statement that negotiations are ongoing with Krasna Lab, expressing optimism that a solution will be reached soon. The health officials emphasized their commitment to resolving the payment dispute promptly, acknowledging the impact on public healthcare services.
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