SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: As per a fresh rule being implemented in UT, it has been made mandatory for every pathological laboratory, even those performing most basic tests, to have an MBBS doctor onboard. With the Clinical Establishments Rule Amendment 2020, and its applicability in J&K, every diagnostic laboratory is now required to have at least an MBBS doctor onboard to sign reports. It applies to all laboratories, across board, with no distinction based on scope of tests, as earlier, people with even diploma or degree in Lab Technology were capable to sign a report in J&K.
It has been noticed since 2001 that, thousands of illegal Pathology laboratories are functioning across the country including Jammu & Kashmir by varied names viz, Pathology Laboratory, Clinical Laboratory, Medical laboratory and diagnostic labs etc. In these laboratories, samples of blood, urine, sputum, various other body fluids are collected by technicians and after carrying out tests, reports are prepared and certified by the technicians. Moreover, in these laboratories MMC/MCI registered pathologists are not appointed for supervision of process of testing and certifying reports. These Laboratory technicians don’t have requisite qualification to run such laboratories independently without supervision of MMC/MCI registered pathologists, due to which patients get erroneous reports quite often, leading to wrong diagnosis and wrong or delayed treatment, thereby causing a major health hazard. Moreover, these laboratories are charging huge amounts from innocent patients and playing with their lives, which is nothing but a clear-cur violation of right of health services. Moreover, some registered medical practitioners refer their patients to these illegal laboratories for various investigations. The patients are unaware of the difference between legal and illegal laboratories. Though, the registered medical practitioners are aware of difference between legal and illegal laboratories, they prefer referring patients to illegal laboratories and are advising numerous unindicted investigations just for monetary gains. It has also been notice that some pathologists give signatures on blank letter-heads of laboratory so that reports are printed later, as recently a similar case was witnessed in Eidgah area of Srinagar. It is hoped that now, after implementing the order, many diagnostic laboratories that run on very small scales across villages, towns and cities of J&K, may have to close down if they fail to show the doctor. Kashmir Private Diagnostic Centres Association (KPDCA) has said that rule does not apply in all states. A representative of the association said that in many states, basic laboratories have been exempted from having dependence on an MBBS doctor. He said that Laboratories have been divided into categories and those, categorized as basic have been exempted. “We request the same norms be applied here as well,” he said.
The professionals and the Association have appealed the Health & Medical Education Department to re-establish the right of registration of their establishments under J&K Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishments Act. 1963. “Restore our right to authenticate medical lab reports as it is a global trend,” he added.