Using technicians for swab collection against ICMR rules: Assn

Warangal: Lab technicians in Telangana claim that the government is forcing them to collect swab samples for Covid-19 test against the directions of ICMR.
According to Telangana State Government Medical Lab Technicians Association, the health ministry directed the state governments in April to utilise the services of ENT specialists and postgraduate trainees to collect swab samples.“The state government is not following rules when it comes to collecting samples. The authorities are forcing lab technicians to collect samples,” alleged a member of the association who works at the Kakatiya Medical College.
President of the association, Sudhakar, said, “Technicians have no expertise in collecting samples. Who is responsible if we cannot get proper results due to poor quality of sample collection. We are also appealing the state government to take measures to protect the lab technicians and their families .”
The association is worried that since many technicians are working on contract basis, the regular employees are concerned about their safety in this pandemic situation. Of 1,060 technician posts, 582 are lying vacant.