Health risks plague lab staff

Visakhapatnam: With the high risk of various health risks, including cancer, bone disorders, skin lesions and cataracts, the healthcare workers working at the catheterisation laboratories (Cath Labs) are leaving their profession across the country.

Even the corporate hospitals and most advanced laboratories have been taking preventive measures and arranging gadgets protecting the technicians from the high risk radiations. Sources say four out of every 10 attendants in labs are affected with various health disorders in the state.

The doctors and technicians who are attending treatment and medical tests are experiencing the downside of high radiation. The most advanced and highly reputed medical equipment in which the patients are undergoing heart related treatment, has been giving nightmares to the technicians.

According to the surveys on the health effects while dealing high risk medical equipment, the health condition of the technicians, who are attending to the patients at the Cath Labs has become worse.

“The health care workers, even at the glass-closed labs and observing patient from the ante-rooms are also getting affected with the high radiations.  The present Cath Lab equipment and procedures are very effective and are also saving the large number of patients.

However, the technicians are being exposed to the radiation at dangerous levels. It is true that the doctors and lab technicians who are close to the source of the radiation are facing health disorders. This radiation levels are working as a slow poison on the anatomy of technicians.

Once the impact cumulatively works on the body, the doctors and technicians are facing alarming health disorders,” said senior cardiologist working in one of the top corporate hospitals in city.

There are medical reports in some countries which reveal that on an average 10 per cent of the staff worked/working in high risk zones (Cath Labs) are having history of cancer and 28 per cent the bone related problems. However, in India, no such surveys have been conducted so far. 

The technicians who completed two or more years of service must undergo a comprehensive health check, the cardiologist said. However, this expert cardiologist also says that the radiation impact was not only from Cath Labs, but also from mobile towers at top of buildings. He notes that people residing in buildings housing cellular towers atop them or closely to them are also facing high risk illnesses.

By Vkl Gayatri