Chandigarh, June 26 -- Inadequate staff at the Sample Collection Centre of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is adding to the woes of patients, who have to stand for hours in long queues at multiple counters to get their tests done.

In the New OPD Building of the PGIMER, tests are conducted from 8 am to 1pm and on a daily basis about 7,000 blood samples are collected. In room No. 25, there are three medical record technicians dealing on an average with over 1,500 patients.

One has to follow a tedious process to get their tests done in PGI. Firstly, the patient stands in the queue at counter No. 6,7 or 23, 24 for tests' payment. On counter No. 23 that is for payment of X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan and M...