Laboratory Services at Primary Health Centers under the Lens: A Need for Overhaul

Objective: To analyze the status of laboratory services at Primary Health Centers (PHCs) comparing the tribal and non-tribal areas, especially in the context of a decade since implementation of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Maharashtra state, India covering 123 PHCs (61 tribal and 62 non-tribal), using the Short Message Services (SMS) of mobile phones as a data collection tool. The data were processed using ENVAYASMS software and analyzed using MS Excel software (2007). Chi-square test was applied.

Results: Based on the parameters of availability of lab technician, ability to perform basic tests and availability of operable equipment, only 9.7% (12) of the 123 laboratories studied, were found to be “functional”. The availability of laboratory technicians was significantly lower in the non-tribal PHCs (67.7%) as compared to the tribal PHCs (91.8%).

Conclusions: The study casts aspersions on the ability of the PHCs to provide rational medical care based on sound diagnosis. The status of dysfunctional laboratories at the PHCs points to administrative deficiencies of the government in ensuring the availability of basic laboratory services, as well as the need for strengthening external governance through community based monitoring.