In a major policy shift regarding routine medical diagnostics, the administration at SMS Hospital in Jaipur has implemented stringent rules for basic tests like Vitamin D and Vitamin-B12. According to the fresh directives, patients visiting the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Inpatient Department (IPD) will no longer be able to get these tests done merely on a doctor's prescription. Instead, formal approval from the respective Department Head or Unit Head is now mandatory.
Hospital authorities argue that this step is necessary to curb the misuse of public resources and prevent unnecessary diagnostic tests. However, critics and common patients are questioning why administrative measures are adding to the woes of genuine patients rather than cracking down directly on wrongdoers and middlemen.
Stringent Protocols and Departmental Sign-offs
Following a high-level administrative meeting, the hospital has directed all faculty members and resident doctors not to prescribe Vitamin D and B-12 tests as routine check-ups. In exceptional circumstances where these tests are medically critical, prescribing doctors must explicitly mention their name and official department stamp on the prescription slip. Furthermore, the central laboratory and testing incharges have been strictly instructed not to accept any samples without the explicit written approval of the Unit Head.
The meeting minutes bear the signatures of key hospital functionaries, including the Medical Superintendent, Heads of Medicine, Endocrinology, Orthopedics, Biochemistry, and Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jagdish Modi.
Mounting Struggles for Common and Rural Patients
A vast majority of patients visiting SMS Hospital come from distant rural pockets and villages across Rajasthan. Navigating the long registration queues, waiting to see a doctor, and now running from pillar to post to secure a Unit Head's signature has turned into a harrowing ordeal. Patients frequently find themselves unable to secure approvals on the same day, forcing them to make repeat visits to the hospital, thus increasing both financial and emotional distress.
Defending the move, Additional Superintendent Dr. Pradeep Sharma stated that many patients independently demand these tests, leading to an unnatural surge in lab requests. He assured that genuine patients will not face any real inconvenience and that the riders are purely intended to check misuse.
