Shortage of staff hindering govt’s efforts to enhance sample testing

Admin ropes in machines, staff of varsities for speedy tests

JAMMU: Although Jammu and Kashmir administration is mulling to intensify the process of sample testing of coronavirus but the shortage of staff is causing hurdles to speed-up the process. However, the concerned officials claim that the process will be more streamlined in next 4-5 days.
“With an objective to amplify the process of sample testing of coronavirus, the administration has made laboratory of Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine (IIIM) Jammu functional but the staff of Government Medical College and Hospital was engaged to conduct the tests,” an official said, wishing not to be named.
“48 samples were tested in the IIIM laboratory in the last two days but they were re-confirmed in GMC&H premises,” he added.
In Jammu and Kashmir, 1900 samples have been tested so far of which 1763 have tested as negative, and reports of 12 test are awaited.
“We have no backlogs, we are conducting as many as possible tests in a day in different laboratories across Jammu and Kashmir,” Head of Department (HoD) Sashi Sudan told The News Now.
“The process will be streamlined in 4-5 days and laboratories will be enabled to conduct more tests. I personally visiting to the laboratories and reviewing the situation,” she said.
She informed that the Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) is being used in IIIM lab. “Tomorrow, I am visiting SKAUST-J to review the status of machines,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department, Financial Commissioner, Atal Dullo has asked authorities during a high-level meeting to focus on the sample testing to get a clear picture about the disease for tackling in a better way,
Stressing on the need to increase the testing capacity, he said that existing technical set ups in various universities of the Union Territory will be utilized.
“2 compatible Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) machines will be provided by Kashmir University. Kashmir University and SKUAST-K have already committed that they will provide their 10 and 4 number of staff members respectively to augment the testing capacity,” he said.
“We need to be meticulous about the services that are being provided at the designated COVID-19 hospitals and have to increase our strength in terms of enhanced facilities and manpower,” Dulloo said adding that better patient care should be the top priority for the health department.