Lab technicians continue protest in Doon; seek regular recruitment, oppose privatisation of govt labs

Dehradun: Medical lab technologists from across the state continued their agitation at the Ekta Vihar protest site in Dehradun for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, seeking regular recruitment in the health department and opposing privatisation of govt laboratories.A key demand of the indefinite protest, being carried out under the banner of Unemployed Medical Lab Technologists Association, is the creation of lab technician posts in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, under which govt health facilities are required to maintain a minimum number of lab technicians based on the category and bed strength of hospitals.The protesters are also seeking recruitment on the basis of year-wise merit, claiming that no regular recruitment for degree-holder lab technicians had taken place in the medical health department over the past 26 years.

They also demanded the formulation of a separate service rulebook for lab technicians and a one-time age relaxation for candidates. “Many candidates have crossed the upper age limit of 42. We demand a one-time age relaxation for such aspirants,” said Ranbeer Singh Bisht, state vice-president of the association.Members of the association also opposed the privatisation of govt laboratories, alleging that it was increasing unemployment and adversely affecting the future of youths seeking jobs in the sector.

State president of the association, Ashish Khali, said medical lab technicians in the state had been neglected for years.“BSc MLT courses have been running here since 1995. In 2009, around 150 candidates were admitted after an agitation, and the grade pay for lab technicians was raised from Rs 2,800 to Rs 4,200 in 2010. We have been demanding recruitment in accordance with IPHS norms for more than two decades, but whenever some progress is expected, the govts and the secretaries change and we go back to square one,” he said.Khali said the association held a meeting with health minister Subodh Uniyal last week. “He told us he would seek a briefing from the officials concerned,” he said. Protesters have warned that the agitation would continue until a positive decision is taken on their demands.