
Regional Chemical Examiner’s Lab at Ernakulam hit by shortage of manpower and instruments
The Hindu
In addition to being understaffed, the lab also suffers a shortage of modern equipment and maintenance.
The Excise Department continues to await the chemical analysis report of more than one kilogram of MDMA, which it seized from an apartment at Thrikkakara a month ago.
The report is integral to scientifically and chemically confirming the drug and determine its purity, while also critical for the prosecution to fight the case legally.
The Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory, Kakkanad, has just started the chemical analysis of the samples after many of its officials either reported COVID-19 positive or had to undergo an extensive period of quarantine after family members of colleagues got infected, disrupting the functioning of the lab.

The Union and State governments provided support in several ways to the needy people, but private institutions should also extend help, especially to those requiring medical assistance, said C.P. Rajkumar, Managing Director, Nalam Multispeciality Hospital, here on Saturday. Speaking at a function to honour Inspector General of Police V. Balakrishnan and neurologist S. Meenakshisundaram with C. Palaniappan Memorial Award for their contribution to society and Nalam Kappom medical adoption of Type-1 diabetic children, he said the governments implemented numerous welfare programmes, but the timely help by a private hospital or a doctor in the neighbourhood to the people in need would go a long way in safeguarding their lives.












