Walk-in, drive through Covid testing kiosks in urban areas

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, May 7

With a major surge in cases, the Health Department has decided to set up walk-in and drive through rapid antigen test (RAT) kiosks in urban areas in Himachal so as to facilitate the public and to ensure timely detection and isolation.

Avoiding overcrowding

We have suggested that RAT testing facilities may be created by local administration to ensure accessibility to testing and avoid overcrowding at testing facilities. RAT testing shall also be started through Jeevan Dhara Mobile Health and wellness centres. — Nipun Jindal, Director, National Health Mission

The Health and Family Welfare Department has now issued directions for setting up of walk-in Covid testing kiosks in the urban areas to facilitate testing.

A circular has been issued by the Health Department to set up dedicated RAT booths in cities, towns, villages, colleges, schools, community centers and other vacant places.

“We have suggested that drive through RAT testing facilities may be created by local administration to ensure accessibility to testing and avoid overcrowding at RAT testing facilities. RAT testing shall also be started in the state through Jeevan Dhara Mobile Health and wellness centres,” revealed Nipun Jindal, Mission Director, National Health Mission.

He said so far 16 lakh Covid tests have been conducted. Due to heavy load of samples, the laboratories in the state were facing a challenge to meet the expected testing targets. Presently, there are eight RT-PCR testing laboratories, 25 TruNaat testing and RAT at almost all health institutions in the government set up to enhance the pace of testing.

The rate of TruNaat testing in private sector has been fixed at Rs 2,000 per test, inclusive of all charges and applicable taxes and RAT at Rs 300 per test. Presently, 20 private laboratories and hospital have started this testing and till date 1,309 and 23,668 tests have been performed through TruNaat and RAT in the private sector. The ICMR has circulated the guidelines regarding the testing during second wave of pandemic.

In Himachal, the major Covid testing is being done mainly by government set up only as the private sector has not stepped forward to provide this facility. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had expressed his disappointment at the limited role being perform by private health sector.

Nipun Jindal along with other team members today visited the RT-PCR laboratory at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) here to inspect the functioning in wake of the increase in pendency of Covid test reports.

After reviewing the infrastructure and gaps, it was decided that adequate space will be provided for the functioning of another laboratory to augment the capacity of the existing lab and one more RT-PCR machine and automated RNA extractor will be provided to IGMC Shimla.

Similarly, one automated RNA extractor will be provided to Dr RPGMC Tanda.

The state had yesterday granted permission to the RT-PCR labs for engaging 29 additional staff to ramp up testing. Directions have been issued that the message regarding the test report should be sent immediately so as to ensure isolation.