A CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: The Free Diagnostic Services (FSD, LABS), a central scheme being implemented through National Health Mission (NHM) is providing diagnostic services free of cost to people of Arunachal Pradesh.
In the State, FSD is being implemented by NHM Arunachal through ASR diagnostic group.
The group was selected to provide the services after an open tender was held in February 2019 to start the service in the State. The FSD was implemented from October 2019 onwards.
Till now it is available in 59 health facilities mostly in district hospitals, Community Health Centers (CHCs), Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and at Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (TRIHMS), the lone medical college of the state at Naharlagun, near here.
Most of the routine tests are done free of cost under the scheme. However, the high end tests like hormone, tumour markers and histopathology are not included.
From October 2019 to February 2021, a total of 1,97,350 samples have been tested; and in TRIHMS alone, 54,426 samples have been tested. The average OPD registration at TRIHMS is 750 per day. From only 30-40 samples per day in the beginning of the scheme, now the sample test rate is average 300 per day.
Some of the major hospitals where the service is available in the Capital region and Papumpare district includes, TRIHMS, CHC Sagalee, Itafort UPHC, PHC Chimpu, PHC Hollongi.
As many as 53 tests, recommended by the Centre, are being performed free of cost in most of the district hospitals, CHCs and PHCs under the scheme. Clinical pathology, bio-chemistry and serology tests are covered.
"This year the plan is to expand the free diagnostic scheme to all district hospitals and as many primary health centers as possible. We are planning to increase the number of tests to 56," informed Dr Bombei Tayeng Toko, nodal officer (public private partnership) of NHM.
She added that not many citizens are aware of the service and there is a need for wider publicity. Dr Toko also highlighted the main objectives of the Free Diagnostics Service Initiative.