Coronavirus: Substandard tests can hamper govt’s efforts to control pandemic

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry that he has raised the issue of substandard coronavirus testing and government is taking it quite seriously as it can further spread the virus across masses.

While talking to international media website the minister said the quality testing of COVID-19 is crucial adding that if people who carry virus declared negative due to substandard testing, they may infect many people around them.

Earlier on Friday, Fawad Chaudhry also shared a list of companies that were found involved in making sub-standard hand sanitizers.

The demand for sanitizers has sky-rocketed in recent weeks as people stock up on the commodity to protect themselves from the novel coronavirus.

Chaudhry had last week asked the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Board to sample sanitizers sold in the open market and compile a report on their quality.

Dear all! As per PSQCA sample testing following 23 brands of Sanitizers are not in comformity with WHO standards, we have advised health departments to remove these brands from stores. pic.twitter.com/Aj5gbSgIsD

— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 3, 2020

It is to be noted that Government has urged people if they suspect that they are having symptoms of coronaryvirus such as fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, they should call the helpline immediately (1166) or consult their physician.

Officials and health experts say if you are given an opinion on the Coronavirus Helpline, visit the hospital or doctor immediately.

You can also contact the private laboratories for a test. However, private laboratories can charge you up to Rs 7,900 per test fee while some designated hospitals are also conducting the test for free. You will receive the result or report of these tests in two days (48 hours).

Prime Minister house also Tweetd ” Isolation wards have been created all over Pakistan to cater to Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic, Province/Region wise No. of Designated Hospitals ICT – 01 Punjab – 06 Sindh – 04 Baluchistan – 10 KP – 7 GB- 4 AJK – 3″

Isolation wards have been created all over Pakistan to cater to Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic

Province/Region wise No. of Designated Hospitals

ICT – 01
Punjab – 06
Sindh – 04
Baluchistan – 10
KP – 7
GB- 4
AJK – 3https://t.co/EcGPRQQ2d4 pic.twitter.com/SW1esTKdym

Advertisement

— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) March 13, 2020

The following hospitals in different major cities are conducting COVID-19 tests:

Lahore:

Services Hospital

Rawalpindi:

Benazir Bhutto Hospital

Multan:

Nishtar Hospital

Sialkot:

Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital

Faisalabad:

Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital

Allied Hospital

Rahim Yar Khan

Sheikh Zayed Hospital

Karachi:

Government Hospital

Civil Hospital

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center

Private Hospital

Agha Khan University Hospital

Dow Medical College

Quetta:

Fatima Jinnah General and Chest Hospital

Peshawar:

Mohammad Teaching Hospital

Jinnah Teaching Hospital

Prime Teaching Hospital

Pan Lys Hospital

Khalil Hospital

Zia Medical Complex

Mercy Teaching Hospital

Kuwait Teaching

Naseer Teaching Hospital

MSF Hospital

Afridi Medical Complex

Shahab Orthopedic Hospital

Raheem Medical Institute

North Western General Hospital

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital

Akbar Medical Center

Abasin Hospital Habib Medical Center

Ibrahim Hospital

Islamabad:

Pakistan Institute of Management

Gilgit-Baltistan:

Civil Hospital Hunza

DHQ Gilgit

DHQ Chillas

DHQ Skardu

PDSRU

DHQ Karimabad

Azad Jammu and Kashmir

Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences Muzaffarabad

Shaykh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Hospital Muzaffarabad (CMH)

CMH Rawlakot

DHQ Mirpur

DHQ Kotli

DHQ Neelum Valley

DHQ Jhelum Valley

DHQ Bagh

DHQ Haveli

DHQ Bhimbhar

DHQ Sadhnoti

While the National Institutes of Health is the country’s main referral center for Coronavirus Patients.