Question : Laboratories in Medical Institutes- Colleges

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of laboratories in the different medical institutes/colleges of the country which have been certified by the Quality Council of India and Indian Medical Association for conducting genetic/heredity diseases tests;

(b) whether a number of such laboratories in the country do not have the requisite equipments, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor; and

(c) the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the laboratories in the country?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)

(a) to (c): Quality Council of India and the Indian Medical Association have informed that there is no laboratory certified by them in medical institutes/colleges for conducting genetic/heredity disease tests.

National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL), an autonomous body under the Department of Science & Technology offers laboratory accreditation scheme, a voluntary program, as per International Standards ISO 15189 for medical labs. NABL has accredited 42 laboratories out of which 17 are in medical institutes/colleges, in the discipline of ‘Genetics’.

The Department of Health Research has introduced a scheme titled “Establishment of a network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and Natural Calamities”. Genetic or heredity disease tests are not conducted in these laboratories.