Pathetic pathology labs of India

I recently got the chance to visit one pathology lab in Moradabad. As it is obvious to everyone that these days pathology labs play crucial role in diagnosis of any disease or symptoms, one must pay lot of attention to way it is done. But my experience says something different.

My father had gone for an 'liquid profile' test to Dr G**g's pathology lab (It is near city bus stand, I do not want to name the doctor for the fear of defaming, if she has any, her) in Moradabad. It is one of the most popular lab and one must expect world class treatment when one is paying high fees of those stupid tests that one can do with a machine without having talent or expertise. They charge hundreds of rupees for these test. However it is doubtful that one can trust the result of these test after seeing the horrible site of the pathology lab.

As this particular lab is on the GT road one must expect lot of dust and sand roaming around the atmosphere and indeed it was the case. There is dust everywhere in India so what is wrong if it is near a pathology lab? In fact, nothing, as long as this dust not come freely into the lab. Unfortunately this was not the case. A so-called componder was taking blood sample from the veins of the patients just close to the half broken door and pouring that blood in an not-so-clean glass bottle, that was kept open in same dust for hours, as sample. Everything was open and this blood goes for test in the open. Only god knows what will be tested in the lab and if the results will show any resemblance to blood of patient or the dust.

If this was not enough to irritate one then you can notice the compounder working without using gloves and playing with the blood of one patient after another as he was chopping chickens in butcher shop. No doubt these compounders are not educated, in fact India does not have many educated nurses, but it is the responsibility of the doctor running the shop and ofcourse the state that allows patients on the mercy of these money-hungry doctors to train these people to understand basic safety procedures. When the doctor is charging hundreds of rupees per patient and printing thousands of reports each day (making lacs of rupees a day) then these poor fellows, compounders, who get 3-5000 a month have nothing to worry about. They know their boss, people call them doctor, need money more money or all the money if possible.

It is not the case that people are not paying for private services, they are, but what they are getting in return? These doctors are sucking blood in syringes and hard-earned money in their pockets without caring for anything. There are no regulations and no watch-dogs. Customers do not know or do not have any rights. They still live in feudal times. They treat these doctors as god, dhanavantri, incarnation however these are incarnation of Yama or some god of thugs. The people of India need to ask for better services otherwise they will keep paying for nothing in return.