Trust pathological lab reports at your own risk
VIJAYAWADA: As much as monsoon brings relief by bringing down searing temperatures, it is also conducive for the outbreak of viral fevers. Diagnosing a viral fever is an important process before taking any medication. Patients visiting diagnostic centres and pathological labs across the city for crucial tests are facing serious problems as a majority of them are not up to the standard and lack a fixed method of diagnosis. They are extremely unhygienic, have untrained staff and lack facilities for proper handling and disposal of biological samples.
The reason behind this state of affairs is that there is no regulatory law that monitors the services offered by the diagnostic centres. Due to lack of regulations, the diagnosis procedure varies from one lab to another with different price range. In order to set up a diagnostic centre, one needs to be qualified in a paramedical stream, get certified as a pathologist and register with District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO). The Central government has made it mandatory to get accreditation from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). However, due to lack of rules and regulations, a majority of the diagnostic centres are operating without registration.
In Vijayawada, a complete Haemogram and Thyroid profile test costs about `600 at some of the known diagnostic centres; in some small stations, it is charged `200. Similarly, primary test for confirmation of Dengue, nonstructural protein 1 (NS 1) test is being conducted in various ways and different labs are charging different rates for the same.
“Each diagnostic centre varies from another in every aspect-right from the usage of equipment to the rates being charged. Interestingly, the result also differs from one to the other. One cannot identify which of the tests is accurate. This leads to major disasters when the treatment is based on the diagnosis report. There are many issues revolving around diagnostic centres for which a regulatory body is required to monitor their activities,” said P S Patnaik, President of Krishna district Pharmacy Association.
Currently, there are over 1.25 lakh diagnostic centres across the state. Only 10 per cent have accreditation from NABL. Of the total, only 63,721 diagnostic centres are being run by certified paramedical staff while the rest are being operated by people trained under various employment schemes of government organisations. In Krishna district alone, over 12,000 laboratories are being operated by both qualified and under qualified lab technicians. According to the eligibility criteria, only a para-medical staff is eligible for setting up a diagnostic centre while the skill development trainees can work under the paramedical staff.
“There are as many diagnostic centres run by vocationally trained staff, as that of paramedical staff. Paramedical staff are finding difficulty in getting opportunities or establishing their own units. Eligible people are sitting at home while the rest are ruling the industry. The government must take measures to restrict fake registrations,” said G Sharma, Secretary of Krishna district clinical diagnostic association.
UNHEALTHY STATS
Total number of diagnostic centres in Andhra Pradesh
1.25 lakh
Number of diagnostic centres accredited with NABL
Less than 10 per cent
Diagnostic centres run by paramedical staff
63,721