The power of education is not only to establish one’s own successful career but also to empower others in improving their lives. In this context of living a hale and hearty life we need to have a good physical as well as noetic health. But in the current scenario, where the world seems not to be very jubilant with its inhabitants, we the minor puppets fall prey to both these health quotients. This is where the ‘Art of living’ and ‘Healthcare Industries’ come as potential saviors.

Now we are all aware of the milestone magnification required in the health industry especially during the COVID pandemic. The reliance of common people on healthcare professionals and pharmaceuticals have taken an immensely colossal leap. The question is that everyone need not be a physician or nurse to be associated with the healthcare industry? This is where the Medical Lab Technologists (MLT) come into prime focus. They are the people who are intricately associated with the functional unit of healthcare system, work in close by conjunction with the medicos, and above all aid the community of commons. It is a reputable position in the society, where they can devote themselves for patient-care. The MLTs comes with a bunch of comprehensive background scientific cognizance that can be implemented in the medical, clinical, pathological and research studies they conduct in laboratories. This is an exhilarating field indubitably and the effulgent future of this field is denoted by the estimated 11 percent increase in employment for medical lab technicians through 2028, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s more than two times the projected average for all occupations. In the Indian scenario additionally, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in conjunction with Life Sciences Sector Skill Developmental Council (LSSSDC) developed a mission of making India the skill capital of the world and has generated more than 10000 apprenticeship contracts in the last financial year of which lab-techs are a sincere part.

The training of MLTs can be offered at diploma and bachelor’s level, of which the Bachelor’s program is to last for three years, culminating terms of dissertation and internship where the main objective is to provide an efficient and balanced training in the field of lab technology subsequently preparing the students for the clinical profession. The curriculum of the Lab Technologists will include diagnosing, treating and preventing disease through the clinical laboratory. The study is based on the several fundamental as well as incipient upcoming areas such as clinical chemistry, blood banking, haematology, microbiology, immunology, molecular biology, phlebotomy, diagnostic cytology, urine analysis, parasitology, coagulation, blood sample matching, serology and drug efficacy test. Medical technology in India has percolated into various fields like CT scan technicians, laboratory technicians, anaesthesia technicians, X-ray technicians, MRI technicians, operation theatre technicians, dental machines, pathology technicians, plaster technicians, optical laboratory, physiotherapy technicians, radiology technicians, renal dialysis and definitely owes an immense scope of expansion over the coming years. Professional development goes hand in hand with the course certification. Medical lab technology course can promote the students to find generously-paid jobs in hospitals, research labs, medical pathology labs, pharmaceuticals industries or get into other educational fields.

The nation is looking forward to some confident and dedicated batch of lab technologists who will be pillars to the healthcare system that has partly fallen fragile during this pandemic attack. MLTs can nip these effects in the roots with their job role and transferrable skills (particularly organization, team work, attention to detail, research, trouble shooting, problem solving etc.) by playing an essential operational role to the benefit of the society and mankind.

By Dr. Pritha Mukherjee (Faculty)

Dept. of Medical Lab Technology