Three labs use expired machines, face fire

GURGAON: The district advisory committee has issued a show- cause notice to three diagnostic laboratories in the city for using ultrasound machines, despite the expiry of their registrations.
The move comes after the Haryana health department sealed four ultrasound machines in the three centres on Tuesday. Officials said the centres were using the ultrasound machines even though their registration permits had expired, a violation under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
An emergency meeting of the district advisory committee was called by the civil surgeon of Gurgaon on Wednesday and notices were issued to Jain Hospital in Sector 14, Haryana Diagnostic Centre on New Railway Road and Suraj Diagnostic Centre near Civil Hospital for violating the norms. One ultrasound machine each was sealed at Jain Hospital and Haryana Diagnostic Centre and two from Suraj diagnostic centre.
In this case, the centres had registered the machines with the district appropriate authority. But the registration was not renewed after expiration. “A court case will be filed against owners of the ultrasound machine and de-sealing power of such machines lies only with court. If the machine was not in use after the registration expired and was sealed on request, the district advisory authority too can de-seal the machine following proper inquiry,” said Dr Saryu Sharma, civil surgeon, Gurgaon.