In a bid to generate trained medical laboratory technicians and radiographer, the State Government has decided to enable opening of institutes to impart such courses without requiring approval of the AICTE.
The institutes will be allowed to offer Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT) and Diploma in Radiography Technology (DMRT) courses on the basis of the no objection certificate (NOC) issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department.
While the Health Department would monitor functioning of the institutes, the Government has set up a committee to formulate guidelines for the purpose. The committee headed by Health Secretary PK Mohapatra has Secretary of Employment, Technical Education and Training (ETET) Department, DMET, Director Health, Professors of Pathology and Radiology, joint DMET and team leader Technical Management Support as members.
The move has been made to tide over acute shortage of trained laboratory technicians and radiographers in the State. There are 843 sanctioned posts for laboratory technicians and 194 for radiographers of which 148 and 70 are vacant respectively.
As per the Indian Public Health Standards stipulations, there is an additional requirement of 954 laboratory technicians and 258 radiographers over and above the existing sanctioned posts. At present, only 100 laboratory technicians and 30 radiographers pass out of the recognised institutions in the State, which is far short of the requirement at both the public and private sector health institutions.
