KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah approved on Saturday the purchase of six Rapid Testing Machines and 300,000 testing kits to enhance the testing capacity of Covid-19 in the public sector.

He took this decision while presiding over a meeting held to review the available stock of kits to test coronavirus-suspected patients and the existing daily capacity of testing.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho and other relevant officials.

The chief minister was told that around 7,500 testing kits were available with the provincial government and the stock was considered to be enough for the next seven days. At this the chief minister directed the health department to buy 300,000 more kits.

Experts at the meeting said 200,000 testing kits could be purchased from a UK firm. They said those kits had already been approved by the technical committee. The chief minister approved the proposal and directed the Indus Hospital to place the order and try to receive the consignment within the next 15 days.

He was told that the testing capacity in the province had been enhanced from 200 to 2,020 per day. The CM said it should be at least 5,000 per day.

The experts told him that the capacity could be enhanced with the purchase of new PCR machines.

On the recommendation of the technical committee, the chief minister approved the purchase of six PCR machines meant for setting up a testing system.

He also approved the purchase of Rapid Testing Machines with 100,000 testing kits from Canada. The meeting decided to order the purchase of the machine and kits by Saturday evening.

New Covid-19 unit

The chief minister directed the health department to establish a Coronavirus Patients Unit at the Services Hospital, Karachi.

He directed repair of the wards, purchase of necessary equipment and posting of doctors and paramedical staff.

Mr Shah ordered immediate release of Rs13.4 million for the establishment of the unit.

Finance Secretary Hassan Naqvi on the chief minister’s directive released the funds to the health department.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2020