Coronavirus testing kits by Gonoshasthaya
While the government has been grappling with the coronavirus testing kit crisis with more and more COVID-19 cases being detected every day, the news of a testing kit developed by the Gonoshasthaya Kendra has made us very hopeful. According to the organisation, the kit is affordable for the general public (it will take Tk 300-350 to get tested for the virus) and can detect novel coronavirus infection in just 15 minutes.
Although the DGHS has said that it needs at least one lakh testing kits, at present the government has only around 1,500. The huge global demand in the wake of this pandemic has made it quite difficult for the government to procure the testing kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from other countries in time. Also, the government's slow response to this emerging health crisis has already put the lives of people at great risk. Thus, it should now act wisely to tackle the situation.
Since there is no alternative to testing as many suspected cases as possible to contain the spread, we will immediately need a massive number of testing kits at an affordable price. And Gonoshasthaya Kendra claims that they can do it.
It's good to know that the government has given Gonoshasthaya Kendra the approval for going into large-scale production of the kits. It should now extend its full support to the organisation, including providing financial support, for it to be successful in its endeavour. Since the chemical reagents to conduct the tests are expensive and those will have to be imported from other countries, the government can definitely help Gonoshasthaya in this regard. In addition, it should allow all the credible government and private organisations and hospitals to test suspected patients for COVID-19.
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