State panel to set guidelines to regulate 15K medical labs

It will help take suitable action, which can be legally tenable in the court of law, against bogus and illegal laboratories

More than 15,000 medical laboratories have been operating in the state. However, there are no guidelines issued for their operations. It was noticed that, in its absence, some bogus and illegal laboratories have been operating and making money. There were a few cases where it was found that the laboratories’ reports were wrong and patients were not treated properly.

Officer, Public Health Department

The Maharashtra government, on Thursday, formed a 10-member committee to formulate guidelines for the control and regulation of medical laboratories. There are 15,000 laboratories functional in the state sans any guidelines. With this, the government aims to curb the activities of illegal and bogus medical laboratories. The committee 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.

The Public Health Department, under secretary Sanjeev Dhuri, issued the government notification on the matter today. A Public Health Department officer told the Free Press Journal, “More than 15,000 medical laboratories have been operating in the state. However, there are no guidelines issued for their operations. It was noticed that, in its absence, some bogus and illegal laboratories have been operating and making money. There were a few cases where it was found that the laboratories’ reports were wrong and patients were not treated properly.”

He said that the government has taken a major decision to put in place comprehensive guidelines so that a suitable action, which can be legally tenable in the court of law, can be initiated against bogus and illegal laboratories.