RAWALPINDI, Dec 23: The decision of the Rawalpindi General Hospital (RGH) administration to close the histopathology department on November 28 has cost the hospital Rs103,500, a source said.

The closure of the histopathology laboratory has also created problems for the patients. They had to go to private laboratories for tests where they paid five times more.

The hospital charged Rs150 per test, whereas the same test costs Rs500 to Rs750 at private laboratories located just outside the hospital.

The histopathology tests had been stopped following the transfer of a doctor from the RGH to Holy Family Hospital (HFH).

The incoming replacement of the transferred doctor had suggested to the hospital administration that the samples could be collected at the hospital and then referred to the HFH for analysis, for the convenience of the patients. However, the sources said the proposal did not suit vested interests.