SMHS Hospital boosting private lab business: DAK

President Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) Dr Nisar ul Hassan Friday said City’s premier tertiary care SMHS hospital has turned into a dispensary because of lack of facilities.
“The damaged machinery and equipment in SMHS hospital due to floods has not been restored yet and government’s claim of it being fully operational is hoax,” Dr Hassan said in a statement.
“SMHS Hospital is without CT scan, MRI, Doppler, echocardiography and neurology lab without which it is impossible to diagnose and manage patients,” the DAK president said.
“Blood Bank of SMHS hospital is without facilities for platelet transfusions and fresh frozen plasma that are life saving for thrombocytopenic patients and hemophiliacs. Microbiology and pathology labs are defunct without which it is not possible to treat infections and perform surgeries. SMHS hospital functions as an extension of private diagnostic establishments.”
He said: “Patients coming to SMHS hospital for treatment are referred to private diagnostic laboratories for most of the tests.” “Though CT scan has been procured but its installation is delayed deliberately to benefit a particular private center. The private players are minting money from poor patients in connivance with authorities who seem to be in no mood to revive SMHS hospital.”