Avoid routine follow-up PCR tests

Over  the  past  year,  the  rapidly  growing  pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges  to  Nepal’s  health  delivery system.  The COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, deep implications for individuals, societies, and   health   systems   across   the   country.   When   tackling a virulent virus like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, early interventions were crucial to stay ahead of the disease. For which, the government was slow to address the appropriate measures to take for its control. Although, it was swift to act and impose the strictest restrictions in the early days of the virus spread, it completely failed in the later period to tackle the worsening situation, when the second wave of COVID 19 started hitting the nation. 

 

Acute shortages of life saving oxygen and unavailability of beds in the hospitals among others caused a huge numbers of deaths of severely COVID 19 infected persons around the country. Easy access to PCR test and its reliability in many cases contributed to panicking of the common people.

With regard to the PCR test, I noticed a very good article “Avoid routine follow-up PCR tests: Make better use of limited testing resources” authored by Dr. Paul Roberston in today's (June 14/21), The Himalayan Times.

Please refer to the following link

https://thehimalayantimes.com/opinion/avoid-routine-follow-up-pcr-tests-make-better-use-of-limited-testing-resources