Even as the State Health department holds the rapid test method to detect dengue as unreliable, patients being admitted to SCB Medical College and Hospital here over the next four days would be forced to depend on such kits.
For, the testing laboratory of the premier healthcare institution of the State has been closed down for Durga Puja holidays despite a request by District Collector Girish S N to the authorities to ensure functioning of the facility throughout the period. As a result, patients are being forced to procure the rapid test kits from outside incurring hefty expenses in the process.
The Health department has deemed the Elisa test mandatory for diagnosing dengue because of its accuracy while the rapid test kit is vulnerable to high degree of misreading.
The Department last year had instructed the authorities to keep the laboratory for testing dengue open even during the holidays, which stand to date.
But the hospital authorities have not only chosen to turn a blind eye to it, but also give the Collector a cold shoulder.
The abject disregard to the request of the Collector has been taken note of by Justice B K Mishra of the Orissa High Court, who on Sunday directed Amicus Curiae P R Das to file an affidavit on the deterioration of services in the hospital. Das and Advocates’ Committee member Dr P K Pradhan were accompanying him.
Justice Mishra, who visited the hospital on Sunday, had a look at the plight of the patients from close quarters. Moved by the condition of two patients, he extended financial assistance to them while two touts were also nabbed during his visit. Expressing dissatisfaction over the state of affairs, he asked the Amicus Curiae to provide a detailed report.
Justice Mishra also went to the orthopaedics department and held discussions with the authorities. He came across serious shortcomings in the department and also at the Trauma Care Centre.