Medical facilities: Crackdown against ‘deficient’ laboratories

Authorities give one-month deadline to complete all requirements۔

PESHAWAR: Following complaints about the growing number of unregistered laboratories in Peshawar, the provincial Health Regularity Authority (HRA) has decided to raid all laboratories and shut the ones that are not following the required standards. 

The HRA has given a month long deadline to medical labs to register themselves and complete all requirements for running an equipped laboratory. Labs that do not meet the standards will be sealed and the owners penalised.

“The specialists in the laboratories should have an MBBS degree and at least six months experience in Pathology.  But most of these labs are being run without qualified doctors in order to cut down costs,” HRA Chairman Muhammad Muzafar Khan told The Express Tribune. He added that they would first start inspecting all labs in Peshawar and then in other parts of the province.

“Lack of funds, staff and equipment is creating problems in running labs smoothly. We are soon opening three new offices in Hazara, Malakand and Bannu to meet our requirements,” Khan said.

He added that they will request the provincial inspector general to provide police personnel to protect the workforce during raids.

In March this year, the HRA had given power to all district coordination officers, assistant coordination officers, executive district officers (health) and drug inspectors across the province to make necessary inspections and shut down medical facilities that are below standard.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2012.