Patients suffer as CD hospital lacks solvents for allergic screening panel tests

Srinagar, May 06: Patients including children visiting Kashmir’s lone Chest Disease Hospital Srinagar are suffering due to lack of solvents (allegiance) for conducting allergic screening panel tests.
Attendants from different parts of Kashmir visiting the hospital said that the lack of solvents for the allergic screening panel is causing inconveniences to the patients.
“My child has to get this test done. I was referred to CD Hospital by a doctor at District Hospital Pulwama. Over a month has passed, the hospital does not have the chemicals or medicine available to do these tests,” said Sameer Ahmad, a parent from South Kashmir.
He said he was told by the hospital authorities that it will take them a week more to get the supplies. “I am not sure when will it be available. This is the state of apathy of our healthcare,” he said.
Sameer said due lack of the same the patients from different areas of Kashmir are compelled to move to private diagnostic labs which is unaffordable for poor patients
Attendants said in private labs the test costs Rs 12,000 triggering outrage form the people. They demanded that the allergic screening panel, a group of many tests should be made available so that patients don’t suffer any more.
“These tests are being not conducted in district and sub-district hospitals. This is very unfortunate when such a facility is not available in such a big hospital. If any patient has serious ailment his life is at risk,” they said.
As per doctors, harmless substances that may cause allergies are called allergens. Common allergens include pollen, dust, mold, animal dander, certain foods including nuts and shellfish.
“These tests are of two types one type of sample is taken by skin prick and other is taken by blood serum, one of the test costs Rs 18,000,” said a pediatrician at GMC Srinagar.
As per doctors such tests are not even conducted at the Children’s Hospital Srinagar.
However, Medical Superintendent, CD Hospital, Dr Saleem Tak said that the rate contract of the allergic screening panel has expired and they have sent a requisition to the GMC Srinagar.
“We have put the matter with the rate contract committee of the medical college. Once the tender is finalized, we will make it available at the hospital,” he said.