According to Dr J M Phadtare, professor of chest medicine, the PFL is useful for measuring lung capacity and for early detection of diseases like bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema (excess air in lungs), he said. It is also needed for pre-operative evaluation of patients with bad lungs and for surgeries of heart and lungs, he said. It can also be used to detect occupational diseases in industries like textiles, chemicals, quarrying and asbestos, he added.

Dr Phadtare said there are patients who do not show any asthma symptoms, yet they complain of pain. Broncho-provocation for such patients is also done, he said. The bronchoscope, another important equipment, is used for detection of lung cancer, and the unit can be connected to a CCTV so that other doctors can watch theprocedures, he said.

The professor said while these tests cost Rs 2,000 at private hospitals, they are done free at the chest medicine department, which has been recognised as one of the best centres in the city. Around 651 patients have benefitted from the PFL since June 1998, he added.

The department is now planning to set up an allergy and asthma clinic where these conditions can be detected and immunotherapy given, Dr Phadtare said.