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PHIs slam removal of postmortem PCR rule

30 Jun 2021

  • Health Ministry says move to reduce inconveniences 

By Pamodi Waravita    The Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) have criticised the Health Ministry’s recent revision of its guidelines on the necessity of obtaining a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for sudden deaths which occur at home.  Speaking to the media yesterday (30), the PHIs Union President M.G. Upul Rohana said that on 26 June, the Health Ministry Secretary had sent a letter to the Justice Ministry stating that the new guidelines show that the Inquirers into Sudden Deaths can release the body without a report from the PHI or the Medical Officer of Health (MOH) about a PCR test.  “Currently, if someone dies at home, the relevant MOH or PHI gives a report on the death and the members of their household. This allows us to protect the members of that household and stop the spread in the neighbouring areas. This new circular would decrease the number of reported post-mortem Covid-19 positive cases and this could in turn lead to a rapid spread,” said Rohana.  The Health Ministry’s Communications Director, the Public Health Services Deputy Director General and the Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head, Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Morning that the circular, released on 25 June, states that under strict conditions, the body of a person whose death occurred at home, can be released without the PCR test.  “There is always a risk associated with all guidelines but what we are looking to do is to minimise the risk as much as possible while balancing the general inconveniences,” said Dr. Herath.  When questioned as to why this change came about, Dr. Herath noted that it was done to minimise inconveniences in obtaining a PCR test from each deceased person, as some deaths may occur at great distances to a hospital.  The Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) noted that a total of 3,030 Covid-19 deaths have occurred in the country as of yesterday (30).

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