Diagnostic services at govt hospitals end at 2pm, forcing patients to private labs

Most government hospitals in the country restrict their regular diagnostic services to a six-hour window, operating only from 8am to 2pm. According to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), a persistent shortage of manpower prevents these facilities from running diagnostic operations in two shifts. Consequently, patients arriving after the 2pm cutoff are compelled to visit private diagnostic centers, where they face significantly higher costs.