PGI stops marker tests for serious diseases – ET HealthWorld

Chandigarh: In a major setback for patients with serious health problems, several specialised marker tests have come to a halt in the PGI as it has stopped purchase of reagents used for these tests. The premier health institute has been forced to take the decision as companies selling these reagents have demanded increase in rates of the same.

These tests are key to detect autoimmune diseases, including primary immunodeficiency disease, encephalitis.

Already struggling with shortage of manpower, the institute has been dealt a double blow following the “unfair” demand by companies. Being a centre of excellence for conducting some costly and highly specific tests, the institute is apparently at the mercy of private companies. Most of these kits are imported and there is no standardised reagent/kit under ‘Make in India’.

Consequently, PGI director Prof Vivek Lal had issued an order to all the departments not to stop any diagnostic test. He had also intervened, enabling fast movement of files within the institute. “However, the companies have been telling us to increase the rates, which we haven’t agreed to. So we have to stop these specialised tests,” a institute faculty said.

The institute had first stopped the neurology panel that included autoimmune encephalitis, inflammation of optic nerve etc. Sources said when the director intervened, the official procedure was completed, but private suppliers of reagents did not negotiate on rates which were earlier fixed by the PGI. “We have 250 patients waiting for neurology panel tests. The new kit will be exhausted on these patients and we have to again start the process for additional patients,” said a faculty.

To add to the woes, the purchase system has been changed too. To purchase anything less than Rs 5 lakh, there is no need for any specialised committee, and the file can be passed immediately, but for anything above Rs 5 lakh, the file has to be sent to the Union ministry of health and family welfare, which makes the entire process time consuming.

Besides the neurology panel, the autoimmune marker tests have also been stopped. This includes paraneoplastic syndromes – a group of rare disorders that are triggered by an abnormal immune system response to a cancerous tumour.

The immunopathology department carries out these specialised tests that includes screening of bone marrow, organ transplant screenings. It’s a centre of excellence for PID. “The plan is to start manual and in-house tests. But this cannot persist as we have not increased the manpower since the past 25 years,” said Prof Ranjana Minz, head of the immunopathology department, PGI.