In an enhanced emphasis on testing, the Centre has asked states to allow all doctors — including private practitioners — to prescribe the COVID-19 test. The test should be prescribed to anyone who fits in the ICMR’s testing criteria.
The move comes a day after the health ministry and the ICMR wrote to states asking them to ramp up testing. In some states, the capacity utilisation of the testing labs, particularly the ones in private sector, is grossly sub-optimal.
All possible steps to ensure full capacity utilization of all COVID-19 testing laboratories should be undertaken, Union health secretary Preeti Sudan and ICMR DG Balram Bhargava wrote in the letter.
The Centre has said that ‘Test-Track-Treat’ is the key strategy for early detection and containment of the outbreak.
The ICMR has strongly recommended that laboratories be free to test any individual in accordance with the guidelines. State authorities must not restrict an individual from getting tested, as early testing will help in containing the virus and saving lives.
States have also been urged to ramp up testing by using Rapid Antigen Point-of-Care tests in addition to RT-PCR tests. The antigen test is quicker and simpler and can be used in containment zones as well as hospitals.
“The ICMR is validating more such kits to increase the available options,” the health ministry has said. States should organise campaigns to increase testing by holding camps and using mobile vans. This is being advised so that in high incidence areas samples of symptomatic person and their contacts can be collected and tested with antigen test kits.
