THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Jan 21: Jharkhand Health Minister Irfan Ansari’s tenure’s maiden Swasthya Mela is more than just an opportunity for free health check-ups, medical advice, and medicines. It serves as a significant ‘coin saver’ for the poor, allowing them to save their money on healthcare expenses.
The Jharkhand Story correspondent did a research on coin savings offered by the Swasthya Mela.
One Swasthya Mela was held at Adhoura village, 85 km away from Daltonganj on Monday.
Malaria testing saves hundreds for visitors
Here, a dozen visitors who suspected they had malaria and reported symptoms of fever underwent rapid diagnostic tests for the malaria parasite. Fortunately, all tests came back negative.
In a private pathology lab, a rapid diagnostic test for malaria typically costs between 150 to 200 rupees, depending on the lab’s reputation. However, the Jharkhand government has set the cost of each test at just 52 rupees.
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As a result, these twelve visitors collectively saved 624 rupees at the government-fixed rate of 52 rupees per test. Compared to the private lab rates, their savings amounted to 1,800 rupees at a minimum cost of 150 rupees per test, and up to 2,400 rupees if the cost per test was 200 rupees.
When the Palamu Civil Surgeon Dr Anil Kumar was apprised of the savings of the visitors to Swasthya Mela he not only appreciated this numerical research of this correspondent, he added to the research saying “A visitor to the Swasthya Mela saves his cost of transportation and time too which he can use earning daily wages then.”
Free blood sugar, BP test
Again the government rate of blood sugar test is 32 rupees per finger tick blood test. It’s 50 rupees per patient in private labs. It comes all free at the Swasthya Mela.
An increased awareness about blood pressure checks was evident, with many rural women actively participating in the BP screening. Dr. Anil Kumar noted that people voluntarily opting for random blood pressure check-ups is a clear indicator of growing concern for personal health and wellness.
Sources suggest that Health Minister Irfan Ansari should engage directly with the visitors to the Swasthya Mela to gather their feedback and understand what additional services they would like to see at the event.
The Swasthya Mela, which started on January 20, will run until January 24. Palamu district has also provided 53 types of medicines for distribution at the health fair.
