H1N1
Private Labs Begin Swine Flu Testing in the Capital
In a move that is sure to receive a huge welcome from a worried populace, the nation’s capital will now have private labs testing forH1N1 Swine Flu, according to this Times of India report. The authorities have now given permission for private facilities to test for Swine Flu.
While three labs are already operational, one more Super Religare Laboratories (SRL), will become operational for swine flu testing from today.
Hitherto it was only the government screening facilities that carried out these tests which narrowed down the options for people and which also increased the pressure on the public health care system and slowing things down.
As of now the test is expensive with three of the labs charging a whopping Rs 9000 for the test while the SRL lab saying that they will do the same test for half the amount; i.e. for Rs 4500. The test is expensive because the reagents, testing kits and other material are imported, all of which attract custom duty.
The tests carried out by the government also costs as much as 4 to 5 thousand per test because of the reagents, enzymes, testing kits are imported and because the testing has to be done for multiple viruses: influenza A, swine A, swine H1 and RnT as per an AIIMS doctor.
Though private testing is now operational, treating of swine flu patients by private hospitals is still not possible. “At present, private hospitals are not allowed to keep any swine flu patient. Now that these labs will be testing samples, we will ask them to advice the patient to go to a government hospital. It is the government hospital doctor who will decide whether the patient needs hospital admission or can stay in home quarantine,” said Kiran Walia, Delhi’s health minister.
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