brand logo

Health Ministry denies ‘intentional’ PCR reduction

01 Jun 2021

  • Says fluctuations caused by machine repair, exceeding lab capacity

  • Average of 18K tests daily: Dr. Hemantha Herath

  • Lab techs claim only 7-10K per day

By Buddhika Samaraweera   Despite the allegations from various quarters that the Ministry of Health has reduced the number of PCR tests conducted daily, the Ministry stated that no such reduction has been made intentionally. When contacted by The Morning to inquire about this, Deputy Director General of Public Health Services and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said that on average, about 18,000 PCR tests are performed daily. “It is not that there are no fluctuations in the number of tests performed daily. There is, however, no intentional reduction. Sometimes, the machines used for testing have to be repaired and there may be some reduction due to such reasons,” he noted. Dr. Herath also said that PCR tests were being carried out at about 30 laboratories under the Health Ministry, adding that in some cases, the capacity of those laboratories could be exceeded, thereby causing a reduction in the number of tests performed per day. However, he added that approximately 15,000 tests are performed every day. Meanwhile, the College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) has alleged that the Health Ministry is conducting only 7,000 to 10,000 PCR tests in a context where at least 75,000 PCR tests are required to be conducted when considering the current situation. When contacted by The Morning, CMLS President Ravi Kumudesh said that with the reduction in the number of PCR tests, the number of patients reported daily has reduced, thereby causing a misconception among the public that the Covid-19 pandemic is now under control. “With the reduction in the number of tests, the number of reported patients decreases. It may create a misconception that the pandemic has been brought under control, which could eventually lead to another wave of the virus within a short period,” he explained. Speaking further, Kumudesh said: “At present, more than 50,000 people with symptoms similar to those of Covid-19 visit the outpatient departments (OPDs) of government and private hospitals daily. They must undergo PCR tests. In addition, random PCR tests should also be conducted. It is through such a process that it is possible to detect whether the spread of Covid-19 is high or low.” He noted that while about 25,000 PCR tests can be conducted in laboratories under the Health Ministry, if laboratory services are activated 24 hours a day, that number can be increased to 50,000. Random testing should also be performed regularly, he added. Adding that the number of PCR and other types of tests performed to detect Covid-19-infected patients in other countries is usually increased during travel restrictions, Kumudesh said the number of tests performed during travel restrictions in Sri Lanka had been reduced. He further added that due to this, it would not be possible to achieve the expected benefits of travel restrictions. The lowest number of daily PCR tests conducted in June was reported last weekend, with a mere 14,110 PCR tests being conducted on 26 June. According to Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) statistics, this continues a gradual decline in the number of PCR tests conducted since 23 March, which was two days after the country relaxed travel restrictions on 21 June. On both 21 and 22 June, 18,764 tests were conducted, and this number increased to 20,577 tests on 23 June. However, since then, a gradual decrease can be observed, with 19,663 tests being conducted on 24 June, 17,552 on 25 June, and 14,110 on 26 June. Therefore, between 23 and 26 June, the number of PCR tests done in the country has reduced by 6,467 tests.

Kapruka

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!

Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!


More News..