Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Aug 15: The state government has taken a decision which will make the Covid-19 infected patients heave a sigh of relief. It has reduced the cost of RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test.
DCM Dr Ashwathnarayana said, "ICMR has warned the state government of the number of coronavirus patients increasing rapidly in the state. So all precautions are being taken. A decision is taken in the meeting to start a 115 bed ICU in the K C General Hospital of Bengaluru and also to buy medical equipment worth Rs 12 crore.
DCM Dr Ashwathnarayan
"All attempts are being made to reduce the rate of death in the state. Some tests need to be done in order to achieve this. If it is an issue at government hospitals, then the same will be carried out in private laboratories. In addition, plasma therapy will be undertaken throughout the state. Sterology test will be done on 18,000 people. In addition, 18,000 antibody tests will also be done. More stress is given for research on immunology.
"The cost of RTPCR test is reduced from Rs 2,000 to Rs 1,500, if the patient is referred from government hospitals to private ones. If anyone goes directly to private hospitals, then the cost would be Rs 2,500. Earlier, it used to cost Rs 3,000. The decision was also taken to buy 20 lac rapid antigen kit and 18 lac RTPCR test kits,” he said.