By Maheesha Mudugamuwa
The Health Ministry is urged to immediately formulate guidelines for health professionals on how to deal with the bodies of the people who die at home due to Covid-19.
The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) warned that if proper guidelines were not given, there was a risk of the disease spreading while transporting the bodies.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told the media that a number of practical issues had already arisen when conducting PCR tests on the deceased in hospitals.
Welcoming the move by the Government to conduct PCR tests even on the deceased during the post-mortem, Dr. Aluthge stressed that there are no guidelines for the health workers on how to function in such a situation, even though it has been recommended that PCR tests be performed after the death at home of those who suffered from other illnesses.
[caption id="attachment_43060" align="alignright" width="300"]
GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge[/caption]
He said that a number of practical issues had arisen at the grassroots level, such as how to perform a PCR test on a person who dies at home, how to transport the body to a hospital, whether the samples needed for the PCR test are taken at home or at the hospital, to which hospital the body should be taken for PCR testing, and how to keep the body until the PCR report is received; and added that guidelines should be prepared in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry last week decided to probe into the recent Covid-19 deaths in Colombo amidst the second wave of infections.
Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said a three-member committee comprising Primary Health Services Director Dr. Priyantha Atapattu, consultant Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Epidemiology Unit, and consultant Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, was appointed to conduct a scientific review into the Covid-19-related home deaths reported recently.
Dr. Herath stated that eight out of the initial 22 deaths, with the onset of the second corona wave, were reported as home deaths. Some of them died while undergoing quarantine and certain deaths were reported from isolated areas as well.
GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told the media that a number of practical issues had already arisen when conducting PCR tests on the deceased in hospitals.
Welcoming the move by the Government to conduct PCR tests even on the deceased during the post-mortem, Dr. Aluthge stressed that there are no guidelines for the health workers on how to function in such a situation, even though it has been recommended that PCR tests be performed after the death at home of those who suffered from other illnesses.
[caption id="attachment_43060" align="alignright" width="300"] GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge[/caption]
He said that a number of practical issues had arisen at the grassroots level, such as how to perform a PCR test on a person who dies at home, how to transport the body to a hospital, whether the samples needed for the PCR test are taken at home or at the hospital, to which hospital the body should be taken for PCR testing, and how to keep the body until the PCR report is received; and added that guidelines should be prepared in this regard.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry last week decided to probe into the recent Covid-19 deaths in Colombo amidst the second wave of infections.
Health Services Deputy Director General Dr. Hemantha Herath said a three-member committee comprising Primary Health Services Director Dr. Priyantha Atapattu, consultant Dr. Hasitha Tissera of the Epidemiology Unit, and consultant Dr. Ajith Tennakoon, was appointed to conduct a scientific review into the Covid-19-related home deaths reported recently.
Dr. Herath stated that eight out of the initial 22 deaths, with the onset of the second corona wave, were reported as home deaths. Some of them died while undergoing quarantine and certain deaths were reported from isolated areas as well.