Andhra Pradesh Government Ensures Ample Dengue Testing Kits Across State

VIJAYAWADA: AP public health family welfare department director Dr Vemireddy Ramireddy said on Sunday that the government has made more than two lakh Dengue RDT kits available at YSR Health Clinics and sufficient amount of these kits are also available at every primary, urban and community health centres. The district and government hospitals are also conducting dengue confirmation tests, through ELISA, hence public need not worry and make good use of the facilities, the official said.

Dr Ramireddy said that malaria, dengue, typhoid and all types of fever are being tested free of cost in all government hospitals. Confirmatory tests for dengue are done only at Centenary Surveillance Hospitals. He further said that to get the test for dengue at every private hospital, if ELISA test is not available, the positive dengue case in rapid test should be referred to the government hospital.

He explained that adequate RDT kits have been placed for malaria diagnosis at village level of the state at Dr YSR health clinics. He further explained that malaria screening tests are also provided free of cost at every primary health centre, urban health centres, community health centres, area hospitals, district hospitals and government public hospitals.

Dr Ramireddy said that according to the Andhra Pradesh Allopathic Private Medical Care Establishment Act No. 13/2002, clear instructions have been given district medical and health department officials to take strict action against the private hospitals and labs that have failed to comply with the rules and regulations and have conducted tests at high prices. He further said that private hospitals and labs will be given permission by the respective district medical and health officer with appropriate conditions if they have experienced specialists.