Maharashtra Govt Still Waiting for Lab Survey Report to Initiate Action Against Illegal Labs

It has been ten months since it had issued a circular to district collectors and municipal corporations across the state to conduct a survey of illegal labs in the state, but the Maharashtra government is still waiting for the survey report to initiate action to figure out illegal pathology laboratories in the state and subsequently crack a whip on them, thanks to the lackadaisical attitude of local authorities towards conducting survey of such labs.
In the absence of the survey report, the state government has no record of illegal labs. On the other hand, number of illegal path labs is on the rise in the state posing major risks to the health of innocent patients. The illegal labs are those labs which are run by technicians having Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) or equivalent qualifications.
As per Supreme Court order on December 12, 2017, only a post-graduate in pathology (MBBS followed by MD pathology) or MBBS along with 2 years diploma in clinical pathology (DCP) (registered with the MCI) can certify medical reports.
In September last year, the Maharashtra government had issued a circular to district collectors and municipal corporations across the state directing them to conduct survey of illegal labs in their jurisdiction and submit a list of such labs to it. The notification has fallen on deaf ears as so far no survey has been conducted by the local authorities in this regard, said Dr Prasad Kulkarni, member, executive council, Maharashtra Association of Practicing Pathologists and Microbiologists (MAPPM).
When the issue was raised in the state assembly by MLC Prasad Lad, who asked about survey of illegal labs and subsequent action by the state government, Medical Education minister Girish Mahajan was irresolute in his response, though he accepted that the government has no record of illegal labs in the state violating the apex court order. MAPPM has time and again raised the issue of illegal labs at various levels of government but their concern has fallen on deaf ears.
“Due to the official apathy, there has been a steep rise in number of illegal labs in the state. The administration needs to take strict against this ill-practice. There have been various instances where patients suffered due to wrong treatment following inaccurate diagnosis. There are around 10,000 illegal labs operating in Maharashtra and the number of such labs is on the rise,” said Dr Kulkarni.
The government seems to be shrugging off its responsibility to act against illegal labs. So far it has not withdrawn the notification dated May 26, 2016 allowing DMLT holders to operate medical labs independently which is in violation of Supreme Court and varied High Court orders and Maharashtra Medical Practitioners Act 1961 and Medical Council of India norms, he opined.