LAHORE: In what can be described as a first major attempt to perform `high-quality laboratory tests` at the primary level health facilities of underprivileged areas, the Punjab government has given a go ahead to outsource the pathology and radiology services of 40 hospitals.

The step is being taken under the `Pathology and RadiologyRevamping Programme` that has been introduced at a staggering cost of Rs2,000 million (Rs2 billion).

To start with the government has shortlisted 25 district headquarters (DHQs) hospitals and 15 tehsil headquarters (THQs) hospitals of the province, an official told Dawn.

He said special focus was being given to the hospitals of the underdeveloped and neglected hospitals in south Punjab to bring them into the mainstream development.

Once successful, he said, the `game-changing` scheme was proposed to be extended to 85 such health facilities. He said the government had finalised a wide range of 44 blood tests to be performed atthe selected hospitals besides making availability of advanced X-ray test on CR System, Ultrasound and Color Doppler procedures.

Within the available facilities not more than 10 to 15 tests are performed at these hospitals and the patients have to either travel to big cities to avail themselves of this facility or visit the private-sector concerns which means huge expenses. The existing pathology and radiology departments in these government hospitals present a picture of neglect.

In the new scheme, the tests will be performed under one roof in the revamped pathology and radiology laboratories at the 40 hospitals.

And for the first time, said the offi-cial, two leading institutions -Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) and Aga Khan Hospital -had been prequalified for this scheme besides a US-based firm North Shore Medical Lab.

The five other pre-qualified companies which will undergo bidding process are Medical College Foundation, Islamabad Diagnostic Centre Pvt Ltd, Raheela Research and References Lab (PVT) Limited, Pro Health and Al-Razi Healthcare (PVT) Limited.

Another feature envisaged for this scheme is `the companies will not charge fee from the indoor patients, he said and added that those visiting hospitals through OPD would pay only token fee for the tests and radiology services that would be available round the clock.

According to the plan, the companies would procure high-quality pathology and radiology equipment at the shortlisted hospitals and ensure availability of trained human resource to do away with risk of faulty reports. `In case of any error or inaccuracy in the report, the authority will be taken to task and the penalty can range from fine to outright refusal to the company,` said the official.

`The companies will be responsible to give special importance to hygiene and maintain ideal standards of cleanliness in thelaboratories.Incase ofany negligence in the delivery of service, heavy penalties will be imposed by the competent authorities. .

`... If the scheme is implemented in true sense as is being elaborated in the draft, it will not only help poor patients but also lessen the load of tertiary healthcare centres,` according to the plan.