Authorise more hospitals in Chhattisgarh to conduct Covid-19 tests: CM Baghel to Centre

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday wrote letter to Union health and family welfare minister Dr Harshvardhan requesting him to increase number of novel coronavirus testing centres in the state.
Baghel requested that Microbiology Department of Dr Bheemrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Raipur should be authorised for novel coronavirus testing, as the department has all the facilities required for the test.
The chief minister stated in the letter that the Government of India has declared novel coronavirus as a national calamity and Chhattisgarh government has declared it an epidemic across the state. To prevent spreading of coronavirus (Covid-19), strict monitoring is being done at community-level, patients are being diagnosed and are being provided thorough medical treatment.
The chief minister stated that presently, there are only two testing centres in Chhattisgarh, one at All India Institute of Medical Science, Raipur (AIIMS) and another at Late Baliram Kashyap Memorial Government Medical College, Jagdalpur.
In view of the current critical circumstances, it is need of the hour to authorise more coronavirus testing centres in the state, so that the suspects may get tested soon and can be provided medical treatment immediately.
The Microbiology Department of Dr Bheemrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur is equipped with all the necessary facilities for coronavirus testing. Keeping this in view, the secretary, health department had requested the director general ICMR New Delhi on March 24 to authorise the aforementioned department for corona testing, but no response has been received till date.
The chief minister stated that keeping in view the current circumstances and the fully-equipped status of Microbiology Department, Dr Bheemrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital Raipur, chief minister Baghel has requested the Union minister to authorise it for coronavirus testing.