IT News
Mumbai, April 25
The Central Government has given permission to Maharashtra Government for pool testing of patients for Covid-19 to expedite the tests process so that the death rate could be brought down.
The above permission was given by Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan during a meeting via video conferencing, with Health Ministers of different states, including Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Thursday. The centre also agreed to state’s request to conduct clinical trials of plasma therapy. Besides, it has also concurred with state’s proposal to sanitize personal protective equipment (PPE) kits so that they could be reused.
Pool testing algorithm involves Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) screening of a specimen pool, comprising multiple samples. In case a pool tests positive, then each sample will has to be tested individually. Under pool testing 30 samples can be tested in a single test. So far, one sample is being tested at a time. The test can be conducted using portable pulse oxi meter and also X ray.
The state had sought permission from the Centre for starting clinical trials of plasma therapy and BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin) vaccine — given to newborns and children to prevent childhood tuberculosis — for treatment of Covid-19 patients. Once clinical trials are successful, the state can start using these to treat Covid-19 patients.
The health minister also said the state is getting less medical equipment supplies than required from the Centre. “We are getting supplies of medical essentials from the Centre but it is not enough. For instance, we had demanded 3.5 lakh PPE (personal protective equipment) but received only 30,000. Similarly, we received 1 lakh N95 masks from the Centre against the demand of 8 lakh masks,” Tope pointed out.
In the meanwhile, Maharashtra is also planning to allow private medical colleges to conduct COVID 19 tests, along with Government hospitals and the hospitals run by local bodies.