Nagaland: Questions over fees for COVID-19 testing

July 23, 2020 707 Views No Comment

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 22

The Dimapur District (COVID-19) Hospital) Superintendent notifying the charging of fee for COVID-19 testing via TrueNat has brought up more questions than answers.

The notification, issued on July 21, stated that government servants and other personnel engaged by the government for COVID-19 duty will not be charged but was unclear on what it implies to the general public.

It stated that Rs 1,500 will be charged per test from “individuals from paid quarantine” and from “private individuals for travelling purpose or incoming from private sectors.”

“All government servants, officials engaged in COVID-19 duty and individuals from Government designated quarantine centres and also specially engaged personnel by the government,” will not be charged for COVID-19 testing,” it said.

However, the exempted category is to register with the Chief Medical Officer, Dimapur, for documentation, according to the notification.

Queried on what it implies for the general public, a senior Health & Welfare Department official responded, “These are for certain categories listed in the SOP of the Home Department (Disaster Management).”

Prodded further, the official maintained that no fee will be charged on “the general public… provided they meet the criteria.”

No clear answer could be had on the perceived criteria.

The notification further specified that staff on active duty in COVID-19 wards will have to work for 7 days, followed by 7 days of institutional quarantine and 3 days of home quarantine before they can resume duty again. After 7 days of active duty, sampling shall be taken on the 8th day as per ICMR guidelines, it said.

It also said that COVID-19 Ward duty staff will do flu corner duty only after completing all quarantine periods and after testing negative through TrueNat.

While the flu corner doctors may treat flu corner patients, advice for TrueNat testing for the patients will be decided by the Nodal Officer, COVID-19 Hospital, Dimapur, it added.