E-Paper
Private diagnostic centres flourish in Punjab in absence of proper guidelines
Director, health services, says all diagnostic centres will be registered once Clinical Establishments Act is implemented in the state
Private diagnostic centres have been mushrooming in Punjab in the absence of a comprehensive framework to regulate such facilities in the state.
Independent laboratories could be found in every nook and corner as there is no need to obtain approval from the state health department or any other competent government authority prior to opening such centres in Punjab. Also, neither there are any specific guidelines to run these laboratories nor rules defining qualification of their staff.
As per the reports, not a single laboratory is registered with the health department and the government doesn’t have a definite number of total centres operating in Punjab. The association of independent medical laboratories, however, pegs the number at 10,000.
No criteria in place to monitor their functioning
In the absence of definitive rules and regulations, the health department is unable to keep tabs on standardisation of tests besides kits and equipment used by these centres.
As per the Joint Association of Independent Medical Laboratories and Elite Professionals, of the 10,000 laboratories in Punjab, only 400 to 500 are being run by microbiologists and pathologists, while others are operated by lab technicians.
Jagdeep Randhawa, state president of the association, said, “Neither the government has formulated guidelines for the registration of private laboratories nor authorised any agency to monitor their functioning. That’s why no rules apply to us. We are also demanding the government to form a body of independent laboratories on the pattern of chemists’ council to govern and regulate operations of private labs.”
As of now, technicians, who holds diplomas and graduate degrees in medical laboratory technology, are running labs, but there are no criteria to verify and check the validation of their qualification and institutes from where they have obtained it.
Dr Akhil Sarin, president of the Punjab Civil Medical Service, said, “There should be a proper mechanism for registration of labs and machines should be operated by qualified lab technicians and staff only.”
Sangrur civil surgeon Dr Parminder Kaur said, “No laboratory is registered with us because there is no such rule. But the government has fixed the price of tests like dengue and a few others.”
‘Aware that many labs engage unqualified staff’
Dr Ranjit Singh, director, health services, Punjab, said, “All private laboratories will be registered under the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act, whenever it is implemented in Punjab. Many states and union territories have already enacted it and we are in the process to follow suit. We are also aware that several laboratories are taking assistance from unqualified staff.”
As per the ministry of health and family welfare, the Act has taken effect in four states, including Himachal Pradesh, and all union territories except Delhi.
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Assam have adopted the Act under Clause (1) of Article 252 of the Constitution.
