22 May 2021 06:13 pm Views - 2185
The Health Ministry has issued guidelines to be adhered by Private hospitals when conducting Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests and Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs).
Director General of Health Services Dr. Asela Gunawardana has sent the guidelines in writing to the heads of the laboratories in private hospitals.
Accordingly, the tests should be conducted only on recommendation of specialist doctors or medical officials and also the patient should be advised to remain indoors or in the institute after the sample has been obtained and until the test result is received.
The Hospital authorities should inform the Epidemiology Unit of the Health Ministry, Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of the respective area and the patient if he/she tested positive to COVID-19.
The hospital authorities should also take steps to refer the patients to a recognized COVID-19 Treatment Centre on the recommendation of the responsible medical officer.
The Director General said if any private hospital fails to adhere to the guidelines, the permit issued to them to conduct PCR tests and RATs would be cancelled. (Ajith Siriwardana)