No pathologist in state panel to regulate clinical labs

Nagpur: The state public health department on Thursday formed a 10-member committee to formulate guidelines for control and regulation of medical laboratories. However, neither a pathologist nor a member of Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) was included in the panel has already kicked up a row.
Maharashtra Association of Practicing Pathologists and Microbiologists (MAPPM), a state-level organization of pathologists, has written to the additional chief secretary of public health, Maharashtra, and raised objection over this committee.
“All the non-governmental members appointed in this committee are technicians and they are not medical doctors. Neither of them is a pathologist. As per existing laws as well as several decisions of high court, qualified pathologists are only authorized to run a clinical lab. We appeal to dissolve this committee,” reads the letter issued by Dr Sandeep Yadav, president of MAPPM.
The non-governmental members in this committee have qualifications like MSc in microbiology and biochemistry. Dr Ajay Soni from Nagpur is the only PhD holder in this committee. He said microbiologists and biochemists are the backbones of any laboratory and deserve the representation.
“None of the members applied or recommended for membership but we have been appointed by the state government based on the work we have been doing since the last many years. I have been writing to the central government during the process of amendment of Clinical Establishments Rules,” said Dr Soni.
According to him, biochemists and microbiologists are the backbones of clinical diagnosis and their appointments on the committee should be welcomed.
“The government has taken a major decision to curb the activities of illegal and bogus medical laboratories. We will formulate guidelines, suggest concrete measures to control the functioning of illegal and bogus laboratories, and recommend measures to cap the rates charged by them,” he added.
Labs in limbo
State has formed 10-member panel to regulate path labs
5 in the panel are govt officials, 5 are non-govt members
Non-govt members are microbiologists and biochemists, not doctors
Patholgists (MD-Path) want their representation on the committee
No need of technicians on it, dissolve the committee, demand MAPPM