Petlawad's private pathology labs face probe over inconsistent test results

Serious concerns have been raised about private pathology labs in Petlawad, a tribal region of Madhya Pradesh. Sarpanch Pintu Singh Bhuria has accused several facilities of producing inconsistent test results and ignoring government rules. His complaints have now triggered an official investigation into the matter. The issue came to light when Bhuria highlighted a case at Patidar Diagnostic. A patient’s blood test results showed dramatic changes within just 24 hours. Haemoglobin levels jumped from 7.9 gm to 11.02 gm, while red blood cell and platelet counts also shifted significantly. Bhuria argued that such rapid fluctuations were medically impossible and called for action.

He filed formal complaints with the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CBMO), local police, and the tehsildar. His concerns extended beyond one lab, claiming many private facilities in the area were operating without proper oversight. Petlawad Civil Hospital’s BMO, Dr ML Chopra, later confirmed that only five labs—Choyal Hospital, Ma Hospital, Suman Hospital, Agarwal Hospital, and Jain Pathology—held official approval. The state health department had already tightened rules in September 2024. New guidelines required all pathology labs to be run by qualified pathologists with postgraduate degrees or diplomas after MBBS. Despite this, Bhuria’s allegations suggested widespread non-compliance. In response, authorities have now formed an inquiry team to examine the complaints and inspect other labs across the region.

The investigation will determine whether private labs in Petlawad violated regulations or falsified reports. If proven, the discrepancies could lead to penalties or closures for non-compliant facilities. Officials have yet to announce a timeline for the probe’s findings.