After a lukewarm initial response, a large number of patients availed of the benefit of free pathology and other tests in the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) on Monday.
To ease the burden of people suffering from the effect of demonetisation drive of prime minister Narendra Modi-led union government, the Uttarakhand government has granted the benefit of free pathology tests for the residents of Uttarakhand in the government hospitals of the state.
This facility was extended to the associated hospitals of government medical colleges on December 23. On Saturday, less than 400 pathology tests were done free of cost in the associated hospital of GDMC however this number witnessed more than a three-fold increase on Monday. The in-charge of billing counter informed this correspondent that 1052 pathology tests were done free of cost till 1.30 pm on Monday under the scheme.
The patients who were allowed free pathology tests looked happy after availing benefit of free tests.
Manish Chauhan a resident of Ballupur said that the decision of the state government would help the people affected by cash crunch triggered by the demonetisation decision. He however added that the scheme should have been implemented earlier when the crisis was much higher. The director medical education, Dr Ashutosh Sayana said that the scheme would be applicable in the associated medical colleges of Dehradun, Haldwani and Srinagar. The residents of Uttarakhand can avail the benefit of free pathology and other tests till December 31 by showing any identity proof which establishes that they are residents of state.