Only symptomatic people be tested for COVID in PHC/CHC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 20, 2021

The Meghalaya Government on Monday expressed grave concern over the significant footfall in the OPD/IPD patients in the PHC/CHC and the Private Clinics on account of the testing of the patients visiting the hospitals as part of the active surveillance.

In a letter to all the Deputy Commissioners of the State, Health & Family Welfare Department Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar said that the exercise has proven to be beneficial in tracing and tracking many unknown cases, it has also created apprehension in people from exercising positive health seeking behaviour

He also informed that patients reporting from the clusters/containment zones may also be advised to test to prevent further spread. The entire exercise may be treated as voluntary and not made mandatory henceforth. The priority is to ensure that, all patients in need seek medical help without any fear or dread and get early diagnosis and treatment as required.

The letter instructed the Deputy Commissioners that henceforth only symptomatic people be tested at the PHC/CHC and the Private Clinics and the asymptomatic people may test voluntarily.