The Manipur Students’ Federation (MSF) has demanded the state government to regulate and fix a rate for the RT-PCR/TrueNat tests in private hospitals and proceed with the plan of mass testing of COVID-19 as declared by the chief minister on Friday.
The failure on the part of the state government to regulate the charges of TrueNat/RT-PCR tests in private hospitals could become a factor for further spread of COVID-19 in the state, the MSF stated in a release signed by publicity secretary Melem Biju on Saturday.
Many people from poorer sections have avoided the test since private hospitals are charging the amount of the tests as per their whims, the MSF stated.
The MSF also appealed to the state government to increase the number of RT-PCR /TrueNat tests in government hospitals, claiming that there are more tests being conducted by private hospitals at present.
The state government’s order on May 26, which limits and fixes the charges for treatment of COVID patients by private hospitals, has lessened the burden of the public to a certain extent, the MSF added.