In a positive development, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Chaudhry Fawad Hussain announced that Pakistan’s first covid-19 testing kit has been approved for usage.
The minister took to Twitter to announce the commendable achievement of Pakistani scientists. He said that Drug Regulation Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved Pakistan’s first coronavirus testing kit.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1271334970649444352?s=20
“Congratulations to National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and our brilliant scientists. You people have made us proud,” Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet. He added that this development would ‘significantly’ reduce the cost of covid-19 tests and ‘huge’ import bills.
It was reported on Monday that the stock of coronavirus testing kits had ended at major government hospitals of Punjab’s capital, Lahore. The testing kits were out of stock at the Jinnah Hospital, Services Hospital, General and Mayo Hospitals. In-charge of the coronavirus lab said that the aforesaid hospitals were provided 100 testing kits each initially. “However, the stock ended within an hour and so far no new kits have been provided.”
Sources within the hospital said the patients coming for the tests at the government hospitals are being denied tests.
On the other hand, Secretary Health had clarified that the reason behind the artificial shortage of testing kits is an increase in testing capacity and the budget that has been provided to hospitals for purchasing new kits.
The minister took to Twitter to announce the commendable achievement of Pakistani scientists. He said that Drug Regulation Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved Pakistan’s first coronavirus testing kit.
https://twitter.com/fawadchaudhry/status/1271334970649444352?s=20
“Congratulations to National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and our brilliant scientists. You people have made us proud,” Fawad Chaudhry said in a tweet. He added that this development would ‘significantly’ reduce the cost of covid-19 tests and ‘huge’ import bills.
It was reported on Monday that the stock of coronavirus testing kits had ended at major government hospitals of Punjab’s capital, Lahore. The testing kits were out of stock at the Jinnah Hospital, Services Hospital, General and Mayo Hospitals. In-charge of the coronavirus lab said that the aforesaid hospitals were provided 100 testing kits each initially. “However, the stock ended within an hour and so far no new kits have been provided.”
Sources within the hospital said the patients coming for the tests at the government hospitals are being denied tests.
On the other hand, Secretary Health had clarified that the reason behind the artificial shortage of testing kits is an increase in testing capacity and the budget that has been provided to hospitals for purchasing new kits.