#MCI should relax norms for persons running path labs as country faces shortage of qualified pathologists

Considering the issue of shortage of post graduate clinical pathologists in the country, the Medical Council of India (MCI) needs to review and ease the qualification norms with regard to running pathology labs as the country’s healthcare system requires many such laboratories, observed eminent doctors from across the country in an online discussion. Medical professionals representing various associations point out that it is high time the MCI reworks on the eligibility criteria in running path labs. Relaxation of norms will help solve the shortage issues in a big way. This can be done on the same lines as in the case of relaxing the qualifications for performing sonography under the PNDT Act, 1994, they opined. The MCI stipulates that only those pathologists who have recognized postgraduate qualifications in pathology are competent to run pathology laboratories. All over India, there is a big shortage of recognized MD pathologists. If the norms are not relaxed, the existing law will continue to be violated openly. It is a basic principle of legal theory that laws must be realistic. Unrealistic laws are bound to be broken, said the moderator of the discussion, a former department head in AIIMS, New Delhi.