The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised concerns over a government hospital outsourcing basic diagnostic tests, such as MRI and CT scans, to a private pathology lab.

A division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel remarked, "This Court fails to understand as to why a private Laboratory is required to be engaged, when the State is duty bound under its sovereign function of providing basic health care facilities (which includes purchase of CT scan and MRI machines), which in present times are necessities of modern time hospital amenities to be available at District as well as Sub Division level hospitals."

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the State to submit an additional affidavit explaining the rationale behind outsourcing diagnostic services to Krishna Diagnostic Laboratory for the civil hospital in Malerkotla, Punjab.

The directive came while hearing a PIL filed by Bhisham Kinger, which highlighted the severe shortage of medical officers and deficiencies in healthcare services at the hospital. In the previous hearing, the Court had questioned the Punjab Government on why only 2 medical officers were posted despite 39 sanctioned positions.

The State Chief Secretary yesterday told the Court that 19 Medical Officers (General) have since been posted. "However, joining letters of these Doctors have not been filed. Let the same be done before next date of hearing," noted the Court.

The matter is now listed on March 24, for further hearing.

Case Title: Bhisham Kinger v. State of Punjab and others

Mr. Bhisham Kinger – Petitioner in person.

Mr. Anurag Chopra, Addl. Advocate General, Punjab