Weak law aids labs, scan centres

 

In all, 2500 diagnostic centres including laboratories and scan centres were examined. The violations detected were just the tip of the iceberg considering the fact that there are hundreds of such centres operating in the state.

 

Since the registration for such centres is now being given under the panchayati raj and municipality Acts, there is not much that the health department can do in checking such illegal institutions right in the beginning.

 

Moreover, the provisions of existing Public Health Act, under which the raids are carried out, do not prescribe stringent punishment or hefty fines against those violating the rules.  Most of these offenders get away with small fines.

 

Another handicap is the existing Public Health Act which is a combination of erstwhile Madras Public Health Act and Travancore Public Health Act. 

 

Even the establishments which are closed down following raids have sufficient time to improve the facilities and reopen their laboratories.  

 

Asked whether raids on 2,500-odd establishments were enough to regulate such institutions, director of health services Dr Ramesh R. said, "It is an ongoing process. We are not stopping at these institutions. More raids will be carried out across the state in the coming days." 

 

He admitted that in the absence of a stringent Clinical Establishment Act, it is difficult for authorities to regulate the functioning of such laboratories and scan centres.

 

Apart from the lack of facilities, there are also complaints of exorbitant rates being charged from the public for various diagnostic procedures including scan. In the absence of standardised rates, the laboratories across the state are charging at will.

 

It is no secret that many government and private doctors have close links with private diagnostic centres and a portion of the exorbitant fee collected from the patients is allegedly given to them as cut.