Lucknow: KGMU to provide cheaper diabetes test

Beginning in the third week of February, King George's Medical University (KGMU) in Lucknow will provide test for diabetes at a very affordable cost. The institute is planning to cut down the cost from Rs 3000 to Rs 1700 only.

Moreover, there will be an ease of diabetes test accessibility at the institute. Visiting patients will not have to move from one department to another, but can get all their tests at a single point. There will be no visit required to different pathological units, or waiting in the long OPD queues  as many as 12 primary and blood sugar tests will be facilitated at one common point.

For this purpose, the institute has partnered with UK-based Diabetacare to install a machine for easy diagnosis. This machine will also be operated by two experts from UK along with KGMU medical representatives.

As reported by the TOI, the machine will be operated by two experts from UK and two from KGMU along with physicians and will not only save patients from running around, but also money and time. Results which take around 5-6 days for all the diabetes related tests, will with the machine, be delivered instantly. The current cost of the test is around Rs 3,000. It will come down to Rs 1,700 now.

"The service was so far available only in government hospitals of Karnataka and I proposed it to the vice chancellor," said Dr Ashish Wakhlu, of the paediatric surgery department, KGMU. Around 100 new diabetes patients visit KGMU in a month.