COVID-19 and PCR tests GMOA urges Prez to obtain full report from Health Ministry

By Yoshitha Perera  

The Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) has urged the President to obtain a comprehensive report from the Health Ministry regarding the random PCR tests conducted by it to detect COVID-19 patients in the country. 

General Secretary Haritha Aluthge said on Thursday that the President had emphasized the need for conducting random PCR tests covering the entire country to identify COVID-19 patients.  

“Currently the PCR machine at the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Mulleriyawa is not functioning. The machine is capable of conducting 1,000 PCR tests at one time and 4,000 PCR tests per day,” he said.    
Dr. Aluthge emphasized the fact that though the President advised the need for conducting random PCR tests, there was a decrease in obtaining random samples from across the country.  

He said the comprehensive report from the Health Ministry regarding the collection of random PCR samples should include how they are conducting random tests, current measures of collecting random samples and its future action plan.