The Department of Medical and Rural Health Services released a circular today, stating that the private hospitals and Labs in Tamil Nadu can treat patients suspected with COVID-19.
The circular was released after continuous feedback from the public that the government health officials are refusing to take samples, dictating various reasons.
According to the current circular, private hospitals and Labs that want to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms have to establish the required facilities and notify the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Chennai.
Read: https://penbugs.com/corona-updates-china-reports-zero-new-domestic-cases-for-the-first-time/
The hospitals and labs that get approval can request the testing of COVID-19 serology to the five designated testing centres – King Institute of Preventive Medicine & Research, Guindy, Chennai, National Institute of Virology, Pune, Theni VRDL, Thiruvarur VRDL and Tirunelveli VRDL. The results of these samples would be shared within 48 hours.
The standard operating procedure for taking samples from the patients is also enlisted in the circular. The request for testing can either be made to the 24 x 7 helpline of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine in Chennai or the private hospital or lab can take samples on their own. However, the protocols have to be strictly adhered, and the samples have to be couriered to the designated five testing centres.
Those private hospitals and labs that get accreditation have to submit daily reports of the admissions and statuses of the patients with COVID-19 symptoms to the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
