New Delhi: The recent decision of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to allow clinical scientists including Medical Msc / Phd to sign technical lab reports and corresponding amendments by the health ministry has indeed created stir in the medical community. While doctors and pathologists have openly opposed the move, clinical scientists have now come out welcoming the move and stating that this was long-awaited
team had earlier reported that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in its latest gazette notification regarding Clinical Establishment (Central Government) Amendment Rules 2020 on 14/02/2020 made it official that, professionals with MSc degree in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry with three years of laboratory experience can become authorized signatory in diagnostic laboratory for tests respective to their specialization without recording any opinion or interpretation of lab results. A PhD in Medical Microbiology or Medical Biochemistry shall be required for Medium & Advanced Laboratories.
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This notification came after the Board of Governors in supersession of MCI gave its decision regarding the role of the authorized signatory to the ministry.
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The move has been welcomed by Medical Mscs under the banner of National MSc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA).
Dr Sridhar Rao, President NMMTA welcoming this move of the ministry said, "it was indeed a long battle to win back our rights. Signing authority was snatched from us and many of our members lost jobs or demoted at workplace and faced a lot of hardships". He thanked the Board of Governors and the central Health Ministry for restoring the signatory rights by giving due consideration to the NMMTA's detailed representations. "Clinical scientists signing laboratory reports is practiced all over the world, including the US, the UK, the European Union, Middle East countries, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Nepal etc. In fact, the West Bengal government had included the clinical scientists in its Clinical Establishments Act guidelines. With the Union government clearing the way, rest of the states must adopt these guidelines", he added.
Shri Arjun Maitra, Secretary NMMTA said it was like Valentine's Day gift given by the ministry to the Clinical Scientist with Medical Msc/PhD community. "We were waiting for this day for long. From 2014 we were fighting for our professional dignity and the opportunity to work in the field of our specialization. Appropriately trained clinical scientists will compensate the acute deficiency of doctors specializing in laboratory medicines ", he said.
"Since the knowledge and skills regarding the techniques used in the laboratory tests are acquired in the postgraduate course (medical M.Sc) itself and the fact that PhD doesn't confer any additional knowledge or skill in routine diagnostics, the requirement of PhD for medium and advanced laboratories may be omitted. NMMTA has always asked for the restoration of signatory authority based on the PG qualifications, with or without PhD." he added
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