Doctors not essential to run basic pathology labs; Health Ministry directs implementation
Medical Doctors would not be essential for running a basic pathology lab in the country, according to the latest provisions confirmed by the health ministry. The Director of NHM, Ministry of Health have sent a confirmation for the policy directing all of the states to enforce the stated provisions. The provision for such a policy was initiated in the Minimal Requirements for Clinical Diagnostic laboratories under the Medical Institutions Act, 2010.
The letter was written by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare along with the Mission Director, National Health Mission to the principal secretaries, Health in all states and Union Territories to clarify the stand of the government in the light of the supreme court order. The order was related to the matter of North Gujarat unit of Association of self-employed owners of private pathology labs of Gujarat versus North Gujarat pathologists association regarding the signing of the laboratory reports.
Following the Supreme Court order, the letter says,
As per the notification(Gazette), the laboratories have been classified into three categories, basic composite, medium and advanced. The reports of the medium and complex classes are to be signed via the medical doctors having a Put up-graduate qualification in pathology/biochemistry/microbiology/laboratory medication or medical doctors having MBBS with PhD qualification in any of the above topics.
For basic laboratory, wherever the interpretation of the medical report is required, the same is to be signed by a qualified registered clinical practitioner having minimum MBBS degree and the reports which contain only numerical value/results of the tests/technical research of samples, then signing of the file by MBBS medical doctors may not be essential.
As per the latest rules, the presence of doctors would not be mandatory for running small labs. This is because, the requirement for authorised signatory being MCI identified medical doctors in such labs has best been stored as desired, no longer crucial.
But the doctors have pointed out that the new rules will eventually put the patients at risk and affect the overall quality of care in medical services. They also alleged that this move would allow small labs to operate by non-doctors which will finally promote quackery.
Source: https://medicaldialogues.in/doctor-not-essential-to-run-basic-pathology-labs-health-ministry-directs-implementation