BY Dinitha RathnayakeCollege of Medical Laboratory Science President Ravi Kumudesh claimed that hospital authorities are not taking action to prevent the spread of Covid-19 among healthcare personnel and staff. He said that this situation can easily be prevented by having the facility perform rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, rapid antigen tests (RATs) and antibody tests in the out-patient departments (OPDs) when a patient enters a hospital. Kumudesh added that the Health Ministry should encourage the heads of hospitals to have these tests conducted on-site. “Medical laboratory scientists have already volunteered to revive the process, but the authorities have not responded to our requests for eight months now.”He alleged that the Health Ministry administration has become a puppet of “some so-called experts” who have lined up to defend the various monopolies and trade mafias within the Health Ministry, thereby placing the hospital staff and the public at great peril. Health Ministry Communications Director Dr. Hematha Herath was not available for comment.

Source: The Nation August 31, 2021 17:37 UTC