• Reduced testing in State hospitals

The available PCR or Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits in the country are approaching expiration, with no orders for new kits, health unions allege.

The allegation comes hot on the heels of the significant decrease in the number of tests being conducted in State hospitals.

It is alleged that the test kits are ordered when necessary and, due to the ongoing economic crisis, ordering test kits has not been a priority as there has been no requirement to do so.

Nevertheless, in the wake of the new Covid-19 sub-variant (JN.1), patients who may or may not have contracted the virus are not presenting to hospitals for testing.

Having been deemed a Variant of Interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO), JN.1 has already spread rapidly globally, with the highest number of cases being recorded in the Western Pacific Region. Despite this, the risk factor of this variant is noted as being minimal. 

University of Sri Jayewardenepura Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara had also earlier asserted that the country’s health system was not at risk given the successful management of previous waves.

However, Dr. Jeewandara had pointed out that testing in Sri Lanka was notably low. 

Adding to this, sources told The Sunday Morning that there was a shortfall in the number of people requesting testing for Covid-19.

When contacted, Academy of Health Professionals (AHP) President Ravi Kumudesh stated that the available RAT and other Covid test kits were nearing expiration and that kits were only ordered when testing was requested.

“Since tests for Covid are not being requested, we aren’t requesting additional PCR or RAT kits,” he said. “We don’t have patients with Covid because we aren’t testing patients for it.”

Kumudesh emphasised that the issue was based primarily on the reduction of patients being presented, thus leading to concerns over Sri Lanka’s current standing in relation to JN.1.

Further, Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) Spokesperson Dr. Chamil Wijesinghe had also spoken of the difficulty in importing tests to the country, given the current economic situation. 

Despite this, he assured that there was no difference in symptoms compared to previous variants.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit Head Dr. Samitha Ginige confirmed the availability of test kits in Sri Lanka, while claiming that exact figures had to be obtained from the relevant department in the ministry.

“But there are no restrictions; we can perform any number of tests and all State facilities have test kits,” he added.