Hyderabad: Diagnostic equipment worth Rs 10 crore is proposed to be purchased for laboratories in teaching hospitals, but a review by the TS Medical Services Infrastructure Development Corporation has found that most equipment that had been purchased five years ago are lying unutilised.
High-end diagnostic kits which can test 150 to 200 samples at a time are being ordered. Engineers say this is of no use in teaching hospitals. The equipment is better suited to diagnostic centres, where the volume of tests is high.
A senior health official said, “The equipment that are in the laboratories are not being used as there are no reagents. Most tests recommended by government doctors have to be carried out outside. Buying more new equipment will not serve the purpose.”
The demand which has come from the teaching hospitals is being critically evaluated as it will lead to dumping of these machines which often do not work for patient-care at all.
