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PCR tests : Unable to increase capacity to 7,500

22 Oct 2020

  • Two imported machines not operational
  • Non-operational machines at Jaffna, Batticaloa Hospitals
  • All documents to get machines released were issued: NMRA
  • MSD says machines released to hospitals  
By Maheesha Mudugamuwa The required equipment for the successful operation of PCR machines imported to the country by the Health Ministry was yet to be imported, and as a result, two such imported machines were not operational at present, The Morning learnt. According to a well-informed source at the Ministry of Health, who wished to remain anonymous, the two machines in question were given to the Jaffna and Batticaloa Hospitals. However, since the additional equipment that would deem the machines operational had not been imported, these two machines were non-operational at present. He told The Morning that the other three machines were distributed to the Infectious Diseases Hospital (IDH) in Angoda, Katunayake, and Colombo, and were currently operating with the available equipment. As a result, the expected increase in the number of tests as a result of the addition of the five machines is now said to be around 400 per day, despite the initial target being 7,500 from the existing 3,000-odd per day, he claimed. It was also reported earlier that there were delays in releasing a number of PCR machines ordered by the Ministry of Health that reached the Colombo Port. As learnt by The Morning, this was a result of delays in the relevant documents being issued by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA). When contacted by The Morning, NMRA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Kamal Jayasinghe denied that there was any delay on their part, as all the relevant documentation had been issued to get the machines released from the Port. Furthermore, Medical Supplies Division (MSD) Director Dr. H.M.K. Wickramanayake said the machines had now been released from the Port, and the distribution of those machines to the relevant hospitals had been done by the Ministry.  Attempts to contact Health Ministry Spokesman Dr. Jayaruwan Bandara were futile. As per the information received from the Health Ministry, at present, the 20 laboratories owned by the State have the capacity of conducting around 10,000 tests per day. In reality, however, only around 3,894 are conducted per day.


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