Private hospital procedures for conduct of PCR tests re-visited

A discussion was held with private-sector health authorities regarding payments made to PCR tests, irregularities reported about violation of Health Ministry-laid protocols and limitations and capacities and non-compliance with Ministry directives, National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO) said.

The meeting was presided by General Shavendra Silva, Head of NOCPCO along with Dr Asela Gunawardena, Director General Health Services yesterday.

During this interactive session, Head of NOCPCO instructed Private Hospitals, authorized to conduct PCR tests to do so in line with guidelines, set out by the Ministry of Health without resorting to malpractices and charging exorbitant sums of money from clients.

He also noted that complaints received by the NOCPCO claimed that some hospitals have completely violated guidelines and gone to exceed their capacities without following Ministry procedures. General silva urged them to coordinate with the Epidemiology Unit with numbers of PCR tests to be conducted in their respective hospitals.