PCR labs worth BDT 211 cr out of service, no initiative to make functional
A total of 162 RT-PCR labs were installed on the World Bank and government budget during Covid-19 pandemic.
It was spent BDT 211 crore to install these labs. After ending the pandemic and the tenure of the project, most of the RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction Test) machines are now become dysfunctional due to shortages of manpower and lack of maintenance.
In the government’s documents, 23 of those labs showed are in functions, but sources said most of those are dysfunctional.
Valuable parts of those labs become steal from different facilities.
The Covid-19 prevailed Bangladesh in 2020. The government had installed 162 RT-PCR labs to ensure correct information and to increase test abilities of the government hospitals.
These were installed under the WB’s financing and government’s own finance, the ‘Covid-19 emergency response and pandemic preparedness project.
The tenure of the project was ended in December in 2024.
Meanwhile, the labs were closed one after other due to shortages of necessary manpower to maintain those as the pandemic ended and the tenure of the project also completed.
Sources from the Directorate General of the Health Services (DGHS) said, a directive was issued to test covid-19 in the May last year. 23 RT-PCR labs were re-open following the directions.
Most of these 23 labs have become dysfunctional, while the rest of the 141 labs remained out of service due to mismanagement.
Sources said, a total of 16,378 covid-19 samples were tested from January last to till 28 July this year.
Among those, 741 people were diagnosed as corona positive while 32 were died in the same period.
A total of 20 lakh, 52 thousand and 288 people were found covid-19 positive since 28 March, 2020 till the date. Among those, 29, 531 patients were died.
When contacted, Professor Dr. Zahid Rayhan, Additional Director General of DGHS told Asia Post, “The government yet to decide on RT-PCR labs, installed during the Covid-19 pandemic. But, the new government have not cancelled anything which was introduced during the previous government tenure.”
The new government has initiated to maintain everything necessary.
Parts stealing from dysfunctional labs
One of the functional RT-PCR lab is in Kushtia General Hospital. It was installed in 2020 spending BDT 2 crore. After ending the project, the necessary manpower has been withdrawn and the lab completely become out of service since January last year.
Stealing have been taken place in the dysfunctional lab in April last year.
It was seen on spot that the grill of the backside’s window were cut. One of the PCR machine, one monitor, a PCR desktop, an indoor unit of an AC, and six outdoor units were theft. Approximately prices of these materials are about BDT 40 lakh.
Functional in documents, out of service in reality
In the document of the DGHS the RT-PCR lab in Chattogram Medical College are on service. But it was found out of service in field visit.
The lab was established on the May in 2020 under microbiology department of the college.
Data from the Housing Department said about BDT 20 lakh were allotted for establishing the lab.
RT-PCR machines and several other medical treatment equipment were provided directly from the health ministry and the higher authorities from the government. But the lab now become out of service.
Contacted, Jasim Uddin, the Principal of Chattogram Medical College, told Asia Post, “As the covid pandemic ended, we have not taken any reagent. No one also comes for test. As a result, the lab remains closed.”
He said, if necessity, we will collect reagent again and make the lab functional.
The similar scenario was found in Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College in Bogura, and Chandpur Medical College.
Such scenario are not remain only outside of the capital, but found in Dhaka’s Kurmitola Multicare Specialised Hospital also. The RT-PCR lab of the hospital remain closed at least the past six months.
Dr. Nihar Ranjon Nandi told Asia Post, “As the covid pandemic ended, the necessities of these machines also reduced. The lab remains closed at least for the last six months.”
“We have no any decision on the issue now. If the infection found again it will be made functional,” he added.
Some of the labs are functional in limited basis
A RT-PCR lab installed in Rangamati General Hospital and Medical College in 2022. The lab yet to use for Covid-19 test. But the lab is using now for microbiology and some other tests.
Besides, two RT-PCR labs in Mymensingh Medical College are remaining in service. One of these are using for the medical students’ tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis B or C testing.
The other lab is using for testing covid samples sent from the hospital.
Besides, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital’s RT-PCR lab also in service.
The lab in Shohid M Monsur Ali Meidcal College, Sirajgonj, also remaining functional since its starting.
Sylhet Osmani Medical College also kept the lab functional and now is using for the microbiology department.
New initiatives are stalled
The DGHS had a plan to take a new project to make all out of service labs functional.
Saidur Rahman, the then health secretary said, the government will appoint manpower, procure kits and reagents for making the our services labs to functional.
For this, the government have initiative a project. But after the election, the new government has not implemented the plan.
The DGHS has no perfect data that how many labs are in function and what numbers are out of service.
The Director General of DGHS, Dr. Provat Chandra Biswas told Asia Post, “I have not the information over the latest conditions of these labs. The DGHS will take the issue with highest importance.”
“We will collect information from field level that how to make these labs useful, and then will take necessary measures on the issue,” he said.
On field level inquiry: Bogura, Sirajgonj, Chandpur, Chattogram, Kushtia, Mymensingh, Rajshahi, Rangamati, Rangpur and Sylhet correspondents