Mumbai News: 13 Bhabha Hospital Lab Technicians Unregistered; MPC Flags Violation

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has admitted that 13 laboratory technicians at K.B. Bhabha Municipal General Hospital, Bandra (W), are working without the mandatory Maharashtra Paramedical Council (MPC) registration. Of these, four have already applied for registration, while the remaining nine are in the process of doing so.

On August 12, The Free Press Journal had reported that the 13 lab technicians at the hospital had not registered with the MPC.

The disclosure follows an MPC directive to the BMC to ensure the immediate registration of these technicians, who are allegedly in violation of the Maharashtra Paramedical Council Act, 2011, which mandates registration for all paramedical professionals in the state.

Council Flags Non-Compliance at Bhabha Hospital

According to an official letter received by the Council on May 13, 2025, the technicians had failed to comply with the provisions of the Act. The MPC also reminded the BMC of earlier instructions to all municipal establishments to ensure that paramedical technicians, officers, and assistants are registered. Despite these directives, the latest correspondence revealed continued non-compliance.

BMC Clarifies Technicians’ Registration Status

In a clarification, the BMC’s Public Relations Department stated that K.B. Bhabha Hospital employs 13 laboratory technicians—four have submitted their applications via the Paramedical Council portal, and nine are in the process of completing registration.

MPC Operational Since 2019

The MPC, operational since 2019, registers 21 categories of paramedical professionals, including laboratory, radiology, X-ray, blood bank, optometry, and cardiology technicians. Authorities have also advised amending recruitment rules to make registration a prerequisite for paramedical appointments in government, semi-government, and municipal bodies.

Recruitment Rule Amendments Suggested

Officials have warned that practising without registration, except as permitted under the Act, could lead to legal action under Section 31(2) of the Maharashtra Paramedical Council Act, 2011.

RTI Query Sparks Investigation

The matter came to light following an RTI query, which revealed the presence of 13 unregistered technicians at Bhabha Hospital, prompting a complaint to the Paramedical Council and subsequent correspondence with the MPC.