KGMU's New Fund to Drastically Reduce Diagnostic Expenses for Patients
Patients visiting King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow are set to receive significant relief from high diagnostic costs as the university prepares to launch an Investigation Revolving Fund (IRF). This innovative system is projected to lower the expenses of many pathological and laboratory tests by up to 70%, offering substantial financial benefits to the healthcare facility's vast patient base.
Expected Impact on Patient Care
The IRF initiative is designed to assist nearly 10,000 outpatients who visit the OPD daily, along with approximately 4,000 inpatients admitted to the hospital on any given day. By reducing the financial burden associated with diagnostic procedures, KGMU aims to enhance accessibility to essential medical services for individuals from across Uttar Pradesh and neighboring states.
Modeled After Successful Predecessor
The proposed Investigation Revolving Fund will operate on a similar framework as the Hospital Revolving Fund (HRF) already in place at KGMU. Under the HRF, the university purchases medicines directly in bulk from pharmaceutical companies, which lowers procurement costs and allows for the provision of drugs at more affordable rates to patients. This proven model has demonstrated effectiveness in cost reduction and will now be extended to diagnostic materials.
Bulk Procurement Strategy
Under the new IRF system, KGMU will procure reagents and consumables directly from manufacturers in large quantities. These reagents constitute a major component of the cost for various investigations commonly prescribed by doctors, including pathological, microbiological, and cellular tests. By buying in bulk, the university expects to slash per-test expenses without compromising on the quality of the diagnostic procedures.
Insights from University Leadership
KGMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Soniya Nityanand highlighted that almost all patients undergo multiple investigations during their treatment, often ranging from 10 to 20 tests, which makes diagnostic expenses a significant financial strain. "Every patient goes through these pathological tests. Reducing their cost would be an immense help for patients," she stated. Prof Nityanand added that similar initiatives were studied from institutions like SGPGIMS, and KGMU has now developed a framework to initiate the process, with seeding funds arranged to launch the facility within the next six months.
Scope of Cost Reductions
Prof Kumar Shantanu, who heads the Hospital Revolving Fund, explained that the cost reductions will cover high-volume routine and specialized tests that heavily depend on reagents. These include:
- Routine blood investigations
- Biochemical tests such as liver and kidney function tests
- Microbiological cultures for infection detection
- Cytological or histopathological examinations used in disease and cancer diagnosis
Additional Benefits Beyond Cost Savings
Officials at KGMU noted that the IRF system will also ensure the regular availability of reagents, which is expected to reduce delays in investigations and improve laboratory efficiency through better inventory management. This enhancement in operational workflow will contribute to more timely diagnoses and overall better patient outcomes.
Future Outlook and Implementation
Once implemented, the Investigation Revolving Fund is anticipated to significantly lower diagnostic expenses and improve access to timely diagnosis for patients. Prof Nityanand emphasized, "Once implemented, the Investigation Revolving Fund is expected to significantly reduce diagnostic expenses and improve access to timely diagnosis for patients coming to KGMU from across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring states." This initiative represents a major step forward in making healthcare more affordable and efficient at one of North India's premier medical institutions.
