Kayalpattinam locals seek crackdown on illegal clinical labs

MADURAI: Some local people of Kayalpattinam in Thoothukudi district have demanded officials to launch a crackdown on illegal clinical and diagnostic laboratories. Locals accused that such labs were not providing accurate results and in some cases, they give fake reports without doing any tests.

The Kayalpattinam-based Mass Empowerment and Guidance Association (MEGA) has raised the issue, saying that a patient, who underwent IVF treatment (test-tube baby), had been doing weekly Beta HCG test in a private lab located on Chinna Nesavu Street, Kayalpattinam. The test was done after implantation to see whether the patient was pregnant. This lab after conducting tests throughout the seven-week period provided false values. The truth is that the reports were given without doing any tests, MS Mohamed Salihu, secretary, MEGA, charged.

When the patient approached a doctor in Tirunelveli, she was informed that pregnancy did not happen and the lab might have given fake reports. A test was also done at the hospital on August 17.

To confirm the fraud, the patient took another test the next day at the lab in Kayalpattinam. Again, the lab provided fake result. When confronted, the person in charge of the lab admitted the mistake, but stated the samples were sent to a lab in Thoothukudi. Copies of fake reports were forwarded to authorities, including Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Directors of Medical and Rural Health Services and Public Health.

P Ponesakki, Joint Director of Medical Services (in-charge), when contacted, said a team would conduct inspections in all clinical laboratories in Kayalpattinam.