Amid COVID peak, GMC Patiala in light for delay in COVID-19 test reports

Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, August 5

Thousands of pending test reports of COVID-19 at the VRDL lab of Government Medical College (GMC), Patiala, are becoming a cause of concern at this stage of coronavirus crisis.

The report pendency at the GMC lab, which caters to the demand of around six districts, is reported to be late of the last three days. Consequently, test reports of the samples, collected on Sunday, are yet to be declared.

It has been learned that an increase in pendency started since the inexperienced new staff was called in after a data entry operator had tested positive, and the entire team of the VRDL lab had to be home quarantined. The efficiency of the lab was severely affected after the new staff took over the functioning.

A resident of Tripuri town, who was admitted in the isolation ward of Government Rajindra Hospital, said that he did not get his test reports even after 48 hours.

In another such case, a Ludhiana resident had to wait for four days for his COVID-19 report. The family member of the patient said: “My father had to undergo heart treatment. We had to wait for four days because no hospital was ready to admit him sans the COVID-19 test report.”

Meanwhile, an official of the state Health Department said; “The entire functioning of the lab has been severely hit as the new staff is not ready to take the heavy load. The pendency creates problems for both health department and patients.”

Dr Harjinder Singh, principal, Government Medical College, said: “We have been assured by the lab staff that the pendency will be cleared very soon. The problem had cropped up after a lab member tested positive.”

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