City lab misdiagnoses healthy man as HIV+

Hyderabad: For 34-year-old Abdul Ahmed from Mahbubnagar, it seemed like the end of his life when the Hyderabad Diagnostic Centre, which is authorised by the ministry of health, declared him HIV-positive.

Mr Ahmed was preparing to migrate to Saudi Arabia for work and to that end had sought a medical certificate from the centre.

He went back to Mahbubnagar and underwent tests at two different centres there and was declared HIV-negative by both.

“I first visited the Hyderabad Diagnostic Centre in February 2019 for a full-body check-up. Medical clearance is mandatory for every aspiring migrant especially those heading to Saudi Arabia for employment. The first report issued by HDA diagnosed me as having viral infection and I was asked to come back 20 days later.”

He returned to the diagnostic centre for another check up only on September 25, and to his surprise was again diagnosed with a viral infection.

“Months had passed since the first report was issued; how can I still continue to suffer from viral infection? I was asked to come back on October 5. This final report diagnosed me as HIV-positive,” said Mr Ahmed. This was a heavy blow.

“With a heavy heart, I went back to Mahbubn-agar and explained to my doctor. He advised me to undergo the same test at regional medical centres. The first test conducted by a private centre contradicted the HAD’s reports, it proved negative. I still went ahead and consulted another diagnostic centre and that report too revealed HIV negative.”

Every time, Mr Ahmed paid Rs 1,000 online for the appointment and another Rs 4,400 for the test. He spent Rs 5,400 every time he underwent a test. Mr Ahmed told Deccan Chronicle that he was asked by the Hyderabad Diagnostic Centre's doctors not to reveal the discrepancies in the findings. He said he was threatened by HDA doctors that he will be blacklisted and barred from entering Saudi Arabia if he revealed their bungling. “On Wednesday morning, I received a call from a gentleman claiming to be a high authority at the Hyderabad Diagnostic Centre. He sympathised and asked me to stay calm. He also offered me a free medical check-up, if I needed. But, I have decided to proceed legally,” Mr Ahmed says.

Several calls made to the landline of the HDA by this reporter proved futile.