With mounting pressure on the central diagnostic laboratory on Victoria Hospital campus due to increasing patient load, the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) is now working on a proposal to streamline laboratory and patient services.

The laboratory built by the Infosys Foundation serves several hospitals under the BMCRI. A sharp rise in patient load is resulting in long delays for tests and reports. The proposal is to bring the Infosys laboratory and five other laboratories within the campus under one roof.

Space identified

BMCRI director and dean Kavya S.T. told The Hindu that the plan is to set up a centralised laboratory under one roof. “We have identified the place for this laboratory on the top floor of the outpatient department building. Blood and urine samples can be collected directly in the Out Patient Department (OPD) area, reducing the need for patients to move across multiple buildings. We are working on it and will soon submit the proposal to the government,” she said.

Hospitals under the BMCRI, including Victoria Hospital, Minto Eye Hospital, Vani Vilas Hospital, the Institute of Nephro-Urology, PMSSY Hospital, Institute of Gastroenterology Sciences and Organ Transplant (IGOT), ENT Hospital, Trauma and Emergency Care Centre, Government Dental Hospital and the Mahabodhi Burns Unit, depend heavily on the Infosys laboratory for a wide range of investigations.

The BMCRI authorities said the facility now handles samples from around 1,500 to 1,600 patients every day, with more than 5,000 tests processed daily. As a result, patients often spend hours waiting to submit samples or collect reports.

Fully automated lab

Deepak Shivanna, Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital, said the plan is to establish a fully centralised, automated diagnostic laboratory to ease the pressure on the existing facility.

He said the BMCRI was strengthening its in-house laboratory services in line with the National Medical Commission norms. However, with multiple hospitals relying on the present system, the existing arrangement is under severe strain.

“The idea is to make it fully automated and patient-friendly. Patients should not have to move from one building to another for different tests. Reports can be accessed digitally, even by scanning a barcode,” Dr. Shivanna said.

He said that such a system would improve quality control, reduce overcrowding, shorten waiting time and help monitor services more effectively. Routine reports could be made available within three to four hours, while specialised tests such as microbiology cultures would continue to take longer.

Staff and equipment shortage

The Infosys laboratory was established in 2006 and was adequate for the needs of that period. However, with patient numbers increasing sharply over the years, infrastructure and manpower have not expanded proportionately.

Sources said each laboratory section ideally requires at least 10 technicians, but several sections are functioning with only four to five staff members. In histopathology services, one machine has been out of order for months, leaving only a single functioning unit. At least three such machines are required to meet present demand.

There is also no full-fledged facility for cancer-related diagnostic testing, forcing several suspected patients to be referred to Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology.

Overcrowding concerns

The laboratory building remains crowded throughout the day. The ground floor houses sample collection, billing, report counters, HIV testing and counselling services, while upper floors contain testing sections.

Due to space constraints, only one counter is available for several services, leading to long queues and congestion. Staff members said overcrowding in waiting areas and common facilities had increased concerns over infection risks.

The upgradation project is estimated to cost around ₹8 crore, and the institute is hoping to get government approval or CSR funding.