Private medical labs posers

Moves by the health authorities to bring private medical laboratories under their scrutiny are long overdue in view of the irregularities some of these institutions are prone to practise. As revealed by one of our front page news reports yesterday, the laws will soon be in place to bring these bodies under a measure of state regulation and there is no doubt that these steps could very well be in the public interest.

The more progressive-minded of this country could very well question the rationale for the establishment of these laboratories by private quarters in view of this country's commitment to free health services and connected welfare measures, but there is no denying that this country has come a long way from those times when welfarism was seen as sacrosanct. For reasons which are not very clear, state hospitals have been permitted over the years to instruct their patients to avail of some of the 'services' provided by private organizations in the health field, and this has led to quite a heavy dependence on private laboratories and the like, on the part of some sections of the public.

Consequently, there has been a mushrooming of these private organizations in the healthcare field in all parts of the country. Needless to say, maintaining best healthcare practices in these bodies has proved a poser for the health authorities.

The possibility exists of quite a few of these private laboratories, for instance, compromising quality or of not caring for quality services at all, in the scramble to earn increasing revenue. The more than occasional medical misadventures which are reported at these institutions are proof that all is not at all well in some of these institutions. For instance, on some occasions, substandard drugs are administered to patients. There are also instances when the wrong medicines are provided, with fatal consequences.

There is also the issue of ill-qualified staff. Complaints have been numerous that the staff at some these organizations leave very much to be desired. Needless to say, such shortcomings too could prove fatal.

Accordingly, there needs to a tightening of the screws and the state should feel obliged to intervene and ensure that the public gets value for money at these privately-run healthcare organizations.

Therefore, a degree of state regulation of these institutions would be a step in the correct direction.

Ideally, all relevant healthcare services should be provided to the public at our state hospitals. Experience has proved that whatever issues the public health sector may be saddled with, it provides to the people a comparatively safe and wholesome service. Therefore, it is a matter for puzzlement as to why some services, such as medical tests, have to be 'sublet' to private sector bodies, whose functions the state may find difficult to monitor.

Such outsourcing of functions could be justified if the public is assured of faultless and quality services. But, as we have seen, not all sections of the private sector, engaged in healthcare, could assure one of the best standards in the provision of medical services.

The need for a degree of state supervision and monitoring, then, cannot be emphasized enough.

Nevertheless, it would be judicious for the state to have an in-depth rethink on these issues. We would be stating the obvious if we take up the position that many a patient cannot afford to patronize the private sector in matters of healthcare.

The costs incurred are very often staggering and beyond the affordability of many. We urge the state to strengthen the public sector health services to such a degree that the public could obtain all the necessary services at state hospitals, at least expense.