New rule for clinical labs draws flak from DASE

“There are over 50,000 lab technicians who have completed their diploma courses from unrecognised institutes. According to the new rules, they are not eligible to work. We therefore demand that the government rethink the rules and modify them,” he said.

According to the regulations, all clinical laboratories are expected to have a minimum space of 700 to 1,500 square feet in urban areas and a minimum of 200 square feet in rural areas. “It is not possible for smaller laboratories to have this much space. It should be reduced to 200 square feet in urban areas and 100 square feet in rural areas,” he added, adding that the smaller laboratories are known for charging minimal costs for the tests.

“There is a government committee to implement this Act. It consists of members from the Indian Medical Association (State chapter) as well as from the Pharmacy and the Nursing Councils. However, there are no representatives from the lab technicians’ association, which is extremely unfair,” he added.

Alleging that the rules merely support corporate laboratories, Ravindranath said that if their demands are not met, members of the lab technicians’ association and DASE will go on a hunger strike in the city on October 14.