Subsidised tests for dengue: SKMCH&RC facing financial loss of Rs 0.3 million daily

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) has been facing financial loss of Rs 300,000 on daily basis on account of subsidised tests for dengue fever since 20th September, 2011. According to the Hospital's spokesman, SKMCH has been offering the CBC test at Rs 80 since Saturday 17th September, 2011, which is a fraction of the actual cost of the test.
As a result, the Hospital has been obliged to use funds collected for treatment of poor cancer patients to subsidise the cost of tests for Dengue patients. The hospital remains committed to serving its primary mission of providing free treatment for cancer to those who cannot otherwise afford treatment. As a responsible national organisation, SKMCH&RC has always been at the forefront in helping with national calamities, be they the earthquake in 2005, or the terrible floods of 2010, he said.
This year, too, we have undertaken to do everything possible, within the constraints of our capabilities and capacity, to help combat the threat emanating from the Dengue epidemic, but we clearly cannot do this at cost to our existing cancer patients. In this regard the hospital has conducted educational and awareness briefings and seminars and has ensured the availability of high-quality tests for extended hours through our nation-wide network of laboratory collection points, he added.
Additionally, we have continued to work closely with the provincial government to monitor the outbreak by provision of accurate and timely test result data. Our entire available capacity for platelet provision is also fully utilised. At this time of national crisis, and despite the use of forcible methods to impose price controls in an arbitrary and ill-thought out manner, SKMCH&RC intends to continue its efforts to help those affected by this disease until we judge that the epidemic has abated.