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MLTs claim PCR reagent monopoly

20 Dec 2020

The Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) last week claimed that there is a PCR reagent monopoly in the country that causes huge delays in issuing test results, and pointed the finger at the health authorities.   They also alleged that the number of tests being conducted at the Mulleriyawa Hospital has now been reduced to around 200 per day due to the lack of the exact reagent that matches with the PCR machine in the hospital.      It is learnt that following the breakdown of the Mulleriyawa PCR machine last month, another machine similar to the existing machine was donated to the hospital. However, the MLTs claim the issue was not with the machine but with the reagents used to extract the samples.   Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Association of Government Medical Laboratory Technologists (AGMLT) President Ravi Kumudesh said the reagent monopoly has created a PCR dilemma, as a group of virology specialists are convincing the health authorities to use outdated reagents.   “The PCR tests have evolved during the year and at present, there are technologies available to provide the test results within an hour. But local authorities are not taking steps to expand the technologies and shift to the newest technologies in order to expedite the testing process and increase testing capacities,” he explained.     He added that the speed of the test depends on the quality of the extraction done by using reagents and therefore, it is important to use the newest technological approaches at all times to speed up the process.   Furthermore, the AGMLT President stressed that there were three PCR machines available at the Medical Research Institute (MRI) but the authorities were not taking steps to replace the existing machine at Mulleriyawa with one of the machines at the MRI.   He also urged the Government to conduct an impartial investigation into the PCR machine at Mulleriyawa, which was obtained using Asian Development Bank (ADB) funds. He claimed the machine, despite being said to be worth around Rs. 200 million, consists of equipment that is not worth even Rs. 70 million.   Kumudesh, however, blamed the officials at the Ministry of Health for turning a blind eye to the corruption that is taking place at key government institutions under the Ministry of Health.   When contacted by The Sunday Morning, State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid Disease Control Secretary Dr. Amal Harsha vehemently denied the allegations levelled by the MLTs and insisted the Mulleriyawa machine is functioning as usual and conducting the PCR tests at the usual rate.   “We have already increased the number of daily PCR tests in the country. At present, we are conducting around 14,000 PCR tests,” the Secretary said.  


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