New Delhi: With a total of 624 deaths in the last 50 days, the fear of swine flu has swelled to epidemic proportions. In February 2015 alone over 300 people have died from the swine flu across the country against a pan-India figure of 218 swine flu deaths in 2014.
Cashing in on the fear in the national capital and taking full advantage of the impending situation, certain private laboratories and hospitals are laughing all the way to the bank.
These private laboratories and hospitals are charging the citizens anything between Rs 3,500 to Rs 9,000 - for a simple swine flu test.
Lack of proper guidelines is letting these firms charge exorbitant rates. While the officials of Delhi government's health department have promised swift action against such private laboratories and hospitals, health experts have raised questions about the lack of uniformity in rates.
According to a survey by Mail Today on 10 authorised laboratories of Delhi government, the amount charged for a swine flu test varies from one private laboratory to another. While a simple test will cost Rs 3,500 at the Sequence Referral Lab in Janakpuri, the same test will cost as much as Rs 9,000 in Dr Dangs Lab.
Other private labs like Dr Pathlabs, SRL Diagnostics, Max Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and Sequence Referral Laboratories are charging Rs 4950, Rs 5,600, Rs 4,000, Rs. 5180 and Rs. 3,500 respectively.
Talking to reporters, a health department official said, "These laboratories and hospitals are taking undue advantage of the situation. Last year, the trend was totally opposite as just one case of the H1N1 influenza was reported from Delhi.
But this year, more and more people are getting themselves tested for swine flu, even as a precautionary measure. With the scare looming, these private labs and the hospitals are minting money,"
While one doesn't have to pay for the swine flu test at the AIIMS or the National Centre for Disease Control or the Patel Chest Institute, health officials worry whether everyone can reach these government-managed institutions.
Sources reveal that sudden increase in the number of H1N1 cases in 2015, has sent Delhi government's health department in tizzy. Only 10 designated labs and hospitals can confirm the H1N1 influenza.
Every day, these labs are receiving around 70 to 80 samples for swine flu testing, out of which 50 per cent are tested positive.
"The people are going to these notified labs. These labs are making money, whether or not one is tested positive for swine flu," said another health department official.
"The health department is simply trying to hide the figures, so that there is no scare among the people. A price control policy should be adopted by the health department," he added.
Health experts too have expressed their concern over the lack of uniformity in rates While talking to reporters, Dr. K.K. Aggarwal of the Indian Medical Association said, "The question is not about the money. But why there is no uniformity in the rates? There should be a rate control in such a situation. The government should put a cap on the upper limit so that no one suffers. How can one expect a person with low income to shell more than `5,000 for a test? The charges for such tests should be nominal,"
When the issue was raised before the officials of Delhi health department, they assured that stringent action will be taken against these labs.
Dr. Charan Singh, additional director, public health and waterborne diseases control said, “This is totally unjustified that the charges are not uniform. We will call a meeting with all the authorised private labs on Wednesday and order them to charge nominal amount for the swine flu test."
