Arun Kashyap | HARIDWAR
With pathology labs mushrooming in Haridwar districts, doctors have warned that citizens should approach only proper labs with a qualified pathologist. Observers point out that there are many pathology labs in the district which lack a qualified MD (Pathology) and the test reports from such labs are not reliable. Such labs operate without registration and trained staff. Doctors administer treatment on the basis of pathological test reports but the reports from such labs are inaccurate and unreliable.
There are a number of such labs in Laksar, Roorkee, Kankhal, Jagjeetput, Bahadrabad, Manglaur, Bhagwanpur and different rural areas of Haridwar district. The Health department has already formed a team to check such labs but instances of such spurious labs being checked are yet to be reported. If sources are to be believed, some medical practitioners allegedly recommend such labs to patients. Laksar residents Arjun Kumar and Neeraj Sharma claimed that there are about three dozen unauthorised pathology labs in Laksar alone. The operators of such labs contact local doctors and offer them commission in return for recommendation. Dozens of labs are displaying the name of doctors working in another location, they said.
Haridwar chief medical officer Dr RK Singh expressed concern at this situation. Talking to The Pioneer, he said that this is a serious issue. A major campaign will be conducted soon to act against such pathology labs, he said. However, the patients should also act responsibly and trust only a qualified and authorised doctor while undergoing treatment according to the directions of such a doctor, he added.
The deputy CMO of Laksar Dr Anil Verma said that the department conducts campaigns periodically to act against such malpractices. Legal action will be taken against anyone found guilty of misinforming a patient and providing a wrong test report, he added.
The founder of Hope Cancer Hospital in Haridwar, Dr SK Mishra said that it is mandatory for an MD (Pathology) degree holder to be present in each pathology lab. Pathology requires laboratory equipment, in which the opinion of experts is necessary. One has to properly assess the results provided by machines to avoid error. A common technician lacks the knowledge needed for this and will simply put the sample in the machine and base the report on the result provided, which can prove dangerous for the patient, he added.
