Fighting the Covid-19 pandemic is a struggle we all understand and support, and in this endeavour, everyone’s contribution is invaluable. Also, regardless of our role, the support we extend is a contribution we make for ourselves, for no one is completely safe from the pandemic. Failure to do our part and exploiting the situation are both unpardonable.
The College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) this week levelled explosive allegations against Sri Lanka’s private healthcare sector, particularly privately owned laboratories and quarantine facilities, raising concerns about the authenticity and the reliability of the tests conducted by these facilities. The CMLS claimed that a certain leading private hospital had issued a PCR test report containing false results about a person’s Covid-19 status, which was debunked by a second PCR test which revealed that the person in question in fact was not infected with Covid-19. The person in question being offered an expensive quarantine package following the PCR test results suggests the motive behind the false test reports, and that is an alarming situation.
This allegation has not been investigated as of yet, and the said incident is the only one that has been reported so far; however, there can be only two possibilities as to what might have led to the false test results. It can either be a genuine mistake, or a well-planned scam to send more people to privately owned quarantine centres. Either way, it raises serious concerns as to the reliability of the PCR tests done at private hospitals and laboratories.
If the aforementioned incident was a solitary, genuine mistake, the message it gives is that the country cannot count on the private healthcare sector to perform PCR tests properly in times of need. Further, it calls for the rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of private laboratories and laboratory technicians that perform PCR tests, and also a monitoring and regulatory mechanism.
Giving false test results about a person’s health situation knowing full well that it is not true and with the intention of gaining monetary benefits, on the other hand, is not acceptable in the eyes of any accepted law or in terms of the fundamental values of the society and medicine. Put simply, it is a reprehensible act in every imaginable way, especially when the country is struggling to curb the pandemic.
We are living in an era where every person is more concerned about their health – their Covid-19 status to be precise – and it is the healthcare professionals and scientists who are being revered as the saviours of the human race for the service they render day in day out. In this context, healthcare services cannot or should not be meddled with, and when it comes to private healthcare services, the quality of the services they provide should receive more priority than the commercial aspects of their operations. It is understandable that they have to cover their costs, but the least that they can do for the money they charge is to be reasonable, reliable, and responsible.
Moreover, we are living in an era where the fact that everyone has a shared responsibility in managing the Covid-19 situation is being reiterated, and the healthcare sector and the public are working hand in hand. However, the public healthcare sector is facing the risk of running out of resources to treat the growing number of Covid-19 cases, and the private healthcare sector has been permitted to provide Covid-19-related services including conducting tests with the aim of easing the burden on the public health-care sector. If the private health-care sector has or is failing to fulfil that responsibility, either due to incompetence in conducting tests properly or being more interested in making money than providing quality services, that is an issue that requires strict responses.Private healthcare for private gain
01 Jun 2021
Private healthcare for private gain
01 Jun 2021
Fighting the Covid-19 pandemic is a struggle we all understand and support, and in this endeavour, everyone’s contribution is invaluable. Also, regardless of our role, the support we extend is a contribution we make for ourselves, for no one is completely safe from the pandemic. Failure to do our part and exploiting the situation are both unpardonable.
The College of Medical Laboratory Science (CMLS) this week levelled explosive allegations against Sri Lanka’s private healthcare sector, particularly privately owned laboratories and quarantine facilities, raising concerns about the authenticity and the reliability of the tests conducted by these facilities. The CMLS claimed that a certain leading private hospital had issued a PCR test report containing false results about a person’s Covid-19 status, which was debunked by a second PCR test which revealed that the person in question in fact was not infected with Covid-19. The person in question being offered an expensive quarantine package following the PCR test results suggests the motive behind the false test reports, and that is an alarming situation.
This allegation has not been investigated as of yet, and the said incident is the only one that has been reported so far; however, there can be only two possibilities as to what might have led to the false test results. It can either be a genuine mistake, or a well-planned scam to send more people to privately owned quarantine centres. Either way, it raises serious concerns as to the reliability of the PCR tests done at private hospitals and laboratories.
If the aforementioned incident was a solitary, genuine mistake, the message it gives is that the country cannot count on the private healthcare sector to perform PCR tests properly in times of need. Further, it calls for the rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of private laboratories and laboratory technicians that perform PCR tests, and also a monitoring and regulatory mechanism.
Giving false test results about a person’s health situation knowing full well that it is not true and with the intention of gaining monetary benefits, on the other hand, is not acceptable in the eyes of any accepted law or in terms of the fundamental values of the society and medicine. Put simply, it is a reprehensible act in every imaginable way, especially when the country is struggling to curb the pandemic.
We are living in an era where every person is more concerned about their health – their Covid-19 status to be precise – and it is the healthcare professionals and scientists who are being revered as the saviours of the human race for the service they render day in day out. In this context, healthcare services cannot or should not be meddled with, and when it comes to private healthcare services, the quality of the services they provide should receive more priority than the commercial aspects of their operations. It is understandable that they have to cover their costs, but the least that they can do for the money they charge is to be reasonable, reliable, and responsible.
Moreover, we are living in an era where the fact that everyone has a shared responsibility in managing the Covid-19 situation is being reiterated, and the healthcare sector and the public are working hand in hand. However, the public healthcare sector is facing the risk of running out of resources to treat the growing number of Covid-19 cases, and the private healthcare sector has been permitted to provide Covid-19-related services including conducting tests with the aim of easing the burden on the public health-care sector. If the private health-care sector has or is failing to fulfil that responsibility, either due to incompetence in conducting tests properly or being more interested in making money than providing quality services, that is an issue that requires strict responses.Kapruka
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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!