Mumbai: Krsnaa Diagnostics To Continue Providing Pathology Tests In Aapli Chikitsa & BMC Peripheral Hospitals Until New Agency Takes Over

Mumbai: A day after stopping its pathology services in Aapli Chikitsa and peripheral hospitals of the BMC, the corporation convinced the Krsnaa Diagnostics to resume its services till the time the corporation finalises the next agency.

Krsnaa Diagnostics was looking after the BMC’s ambitious scheme to provide basic and advanced pathology tests at a subsidised rate to Mumbaikars – Aapli Chikitsa. “We have started our services from today,” said Pallavi Jain, MD of Krsnaa Diagnostics. She said they will continue the services till the time the new provider is onboard.

About The Scheme

Under the scheme, the corporation outsourced laboratory testing for 190 dispensaries, 107 HBT clinics, all BMC-run maternity homes, and special hospitals to the private laboratory. There are 139 tests that can be done at these centers, of which 101 tests are basic and 38 tests are advanced.

The corporation awarded the contract to the diagnostic company last year after it quoted the lowest price (Rs 86) for basic pathology tests. Krsnaa Diagnostics was awarded the contract a year back and since then, there have been several incidents wherein the services were disrupted. On October 17, the Free Press Journal reported how it stopped services due to non-payment of dues.

“Patients have to suffer. We have to refer them outside for tests. While the scheme is good, the corporation has to ensure it is implemented well and patients get benefitted too without such disruption of services,” said a senior doctor working in one of the BMC’s peripheral hospitals.

Krsnaa Diagnostics reported that on average, they receive samples from around 4,000 patients daily from BMC dispensaries, maternity homes, and hospitals. They conduct between 35,000 to 40,000 different types of tests. Multiple tests are often prescribed for a single patient