4407 lab and scan institutions, but only 113 with registration!

ALAPPUZHA: Although there are 4,407 institutions in Kerala for blood tests and scanning, which are crucial in treatment, only 113 have permanent registration to ensure quality. There is not a single institution with permanent registration in Kasaragod, and there is only one in Kollam. There are two each in Kottayam, Pathanamthitta and Idukki.

The temporary license period for health institutions was two years as per the 2018 law. The bill that increased this to four years came into force in 2021 and four and a half years in 2022. However, there is no action to verify the quality and license of the labs or to close those without a license. The authority for this lies with the district medical officers.

Different results are obtained in each place for the same sample as the quality of the labs is not standardised. Medical problems, including the birth of a child with a genetic defect in Alappuzha, were caused by errors in tests, including scanning.

No inspection, no lapses found

👉 Temporary registration institutions should obtain permanent registration within the specified period

👉 The fact is that violations cannot be detected due to lack of inspections

Institutions mostly in Kochi and Thrissur

(District, Temporary, Permanent Registration)

Ernakulam..............................591..........28

Thrissur..................................507..........25

Alappuzha..............................421...........8

Kannur....................................392..........13

Malappuram..........................356............6

Thiruvananthapuram............344..........10

Kozhikode..............................338...........3

Kottayam...............................335...........2

Kollam....................................297............1

Palakkad................................268...........8

Pathanamthitta.....................200...........2

Idukki.....................................152...........2

Wayanad................................128...........5

Kasaragod..............................78............0

Total................................4407...........113

(Retrieved from the State Council for Clinical Establishment under the Right to Information Act)

Penalties for unregistered health institutions .........50,000 to 5 lakh

There is no system to check registration or quality or display rates

- G. Rajendran, Consumer Federation of India