After a lot of hue and cry by various sections of people and a reprimand from the state high court, the Telangana government is contemplating allowing people to get tested for Covid-19 even in private laboratories.
Hitherto, the testing for Covid-19 is being allowed only in Gandhi Hospital and nine acknowledged government testing centres like Fever Hospital, NIMS etc.
Though the Centre and ICMR have given recognition to a few other private labs, Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao did not give permission till date.
On Friday, KCR’s son and IT minister K T Rama Rao announced that the state cabinet at its next meeting would take a call on allowing private labs to conduct the tests for Coronavirus.
He sid the covid testing is being done by the government alone to ensure that people are not subjected to fear psychosis.
He said that TS has been adhering to ICMR and WHO guidelines with respect to testing numbers and procedures.
He said, without taking names, that there have been instances earlier of private health service providers cashing in on similar situations. They conducted the tests on people whether or not it was required. This caused panic among people and also drained them financially.
In the context of covid becoming more rampant, Rao said the Government may rethink about its approach and may allow private testing. However, this has to be a collective decision and will be taken up by the Cabinet at an appropriate time, he said.