Chandigarh, March 30: Amid rising number of COVID-19 casesin the State, Punjab Health & Family Welfare Minister Mr. Balbir SinghSidhu said it was compulsory for all labs and hospitals to immediately informrespective Civil Surgeon offices for notifying COVID-19 affected persons inorder to strengthen the containment measures.
Pointing out the importance of preventive measures, Mr.Sidhu said that it is of utmost significance to isolate and providedappropriate treatment to each and every case (suspected/confirmed) of COVID-19besides timely tracing their contacts to break the transmission chain at theearliest in the larger public interest. The wholehearted support andcooperation of the private sector including laboratories and hospitals arenecessitated in these trying circumstances, said Sidhu adding that private labsand hospitals should inform about positive cases to their respective civilsurgeon offices without any delay.
It is mandatory for all hospitals (Government and Private),Medical officers in Government health institutions and registered PrivateMedical Practitioners including AYUSH Practitioners, to also notify such personto concern district surveillance unit, he said.
Divulging about the capping of charges for CT-HRCT Scan forchest and RT-PCR for COVID-19, Health Minister said that no private diagnosticcenters should charge any amount more than Rs. 2000 for CT-Scan/HRCT chest,inclusive of GST/Taxes, documentation and reporting in the State of Punjab.Similarly, no Private laboratory should charge any amount more than Rs.900 forRT-PCR test for COVID 19.
Mr. Sidhu clarified that the lab has to strictly follow allthe testing protocols as laid down by ICMR & the GoI and the StateGovernment from time to time. He said that the Private Laboratories must sharetheir data pertaining to the results of tests for COVID-19 with the StateGovernment and uploaded it on ICMR portal on a timely basis. The test reportshould communicate to the patient immediately after completion of testingprocess as well as all results should immediately communicate to the CivilSurgeon office of the concerned district and State IDSP cell of Punjab.
All the private NABL & ICMR approved laboratories haveinstructed that information of the patient must be maintained with utmostconfidentiality and follow the laid protocols he said adding that if anyprivate institute found dereliction in their responsibility strict action wouldbe taken under Epidemic Disease Act 1895, COVID-19 Regulations 2020.
The Minister informed that one Chandigarh-based Lab has beenissued a show-cause notice for overcharging and one license of Amritsar-basedlab has been canceled for violating the conditions issued by the Stategovernment. District-level teams have been constituted to conduct surprisechecking of such centres.