Pathologists start awareness campaign after HC order

The High Court had ruled that only qualified pathologists registered with the Medical Council of India (MCI) can independently run laboratories. Lab technicians with degrees from recognised universities but without an MCI registration cannot run laboratories independently. The court had also directed the state government to initiate criminal action against people who run laboratories without necessary authorisation.

But according to the Gujarat Association of Pathologists and Microbiologists (GAPM),the state government has failed to put a stop to this illegal practice even a month after the HC order.

GAPM member Dr Rajendra Lalani said: “There are thousands of such technicians in Gujarat who are running medical laboratories illegally,putting the life of patients at risk. We moved the petition in the HC and the court gave directions to the state government to check this. One month has passed since that order,but the government has not taken any steps to curb the menace.”

He added: “We have decided to take this issue to the people concerned and spread awareness about the same. We want to apprise the people and the medical fraternity that it is not only dangerous to run a laboratory without authorisation,but also a criminal offence.”

Dr Lalani said,GAPM will write to all the doctors,concerned medical personnel and government officials about the HC judgment and the statutory clauses related to the issue. “If we find this not suffice to check the menace,we may also initiate contempt of the court proceedings against the relevant persons,” he said.

He added that according to a rough estimate,there are around 1,000 pathologists in Gujarat registered with MCI,who are specialised doctors having done MD in Pathology after completing MBBS. But there are around 40,000 people running laboratories in Gujarat after clearing examinations of lab technicians.