Experts call to upgrade medical labs in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With incidences of infectious diseases on the rise, experts say there is a dire need for upgrading laboratory facilities to expedite investigations of samples at the local level. The state health department runs 1250 odd institutions including district, general, taluk, community health centres and primary health centres having more than 35,000 beds. But laboratory facilities are available only at community health centres, taluk, general and district hospitals. At least 200 lab technicians are required to streamline lab services and meet the huge rush in these health institutions. 

In view of harrowing experience of patients in government hospitals because of improper timings of laboratories, shortage of staff and infrastructure facilities, the health minister had recently directed hospital authorities to ensure laboratories worked 24/7. This was to make sure that people coming for tests and giving samples do not suffer especially during night or wee hours of the day.   There have been complaints regarding laboratories not adhering to their fixed timings. At many places, sufficient lab technicians are not available to take samples and conduct analysis within a stipulated time. In the case of  samples of  H1N1, H5N1, SARS, Ebola and influenza like infections, the laboratory investigation mechanism is functioning quite effectively.

The samples of H1N1 are being sent to regional laboratory in Manipal, and in the event of huge load these are also taken up at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology  (RGCB) Thiruvananthapuram. The rail accessibility is one of the factors for sending bulk of samples to Manipal especially from most parts of the state. In case of Idukki and Pathanamthitta, the samples are sent to National Institute of Virology (NIV) Alappuzha. Doctors say on an average 30 samples are sent to Manipal and other Centres daily. The results are received through e-mail within 24 hours and the copies are sent to the state control room and the districts concerned. Over the past 140 days 2526 samples have been sent for laboratory investigation of which 26 per cent were found to be positive. A few days ago the figure was 30 per cent.