Pune Mirror
By Dipti Barve

‘Bloody’ mess
While the district health officer has alerted his ward officers about pathology labs run by DMLT–qualified people, they aren’t listening. A Wagholi school just had a check–up from one such illegal lab
A blood check–up camp was organized in Satav High School, Wagholi by the Primary Health Centre of Pune District on December 15, 2008. It was conducted by Shreeram Pathological Lab run by a Shashikant Sali who has a Diploma in Lab Technique (DMLT) However, according to a Bombay High Court, order in 2007, and ‘the holder of a DMLT (Diploma in Lab Technique) is not entitled to practice pathology Therefore this person is eligible and can be employed only as a technician in a pathologist’s lab–oratory. A DMLT holder is not al–lowed to authorise any pathological reports.

Mirror contacted the medical officer of the Wagholi Primary Health Centre who took the initiative in conducting the blood check up camp at Satav High School. Dr Varsha Gaikwad, the medical officer of the primary health centre said, It is not my duty to find out whether or not the pathological lab–oratory is run by a DMLT or an MD pathologists. I just follow my boss’ orders. I was told that Shreeram pathology lab was authorised by the district health officer and. appointed as a. Centre for all the pathological tests to be done in Wagholi. So I cannot answer anybody who has objections with regards to the Satav school blood check Up.

When asked about the issue, district health officer of Pune, H H Chavan told Pune Mirror, The district health department has not appointed or authorised any pathology laboratory for blood check–ups or any pathological tests except the sputum smear test (for TB). According to the rule, only the pathologists working in the health department have the right to have blood check–ups at schools and to authorise reports. The private laboratories run by DMLT qualified persons cannot conduct blood check up camps under the health department as DMLT qualified person is not allowed to authorise the pathological reports.

Mr. Desai, principal of Satav School told the Pune Mirror, “We have not sent any request letters to district health department to conduct a blood check up camp at our school it was an initiative taken by the primary health centre of Wagholi for this camp”. We were not aware of the fact that private laboratories run by a DMLT qualified person cannot conduct blood check–up camps and authorise the reports.

However, when this reporter enquired as to what action would be taken now, she was not provided with a good enough answer. The district health officer who had sent out letters to all ward medical health officers alerting them against laboratories run by DMLT qualified persons said he would take necessary action against these bogus labs. But his representatives at the ward level were not aware of the law and said the matter was not under their control.

ACCORDING TO THE HIGH COURT ORDER IN 2007, A DMLT HOLDER CANNOT AUTHORISE ANY PATHOLOGY REPORTS. THEY CAN ONLY BE EMPLOYED AS LAB TECHNICIANS