PNS|Vijayawada
With a rise in COVID-19 cases reported in some states, Andhra Pradesh’s Special Chief Secretary for Health, Medical and Family Welfare, MT Krishna Babu, held a review meeting on Monday at the State Secretariat in Velagapudi to evaluate the state’s COVID testing preparedness. He directed officials to increase testing capacity as a precautionary measure.
Officials said that although COVID cases remain low in Andhra Pradesh, testing is being carried out as per protocol for patients showing symptoms such as fever at government hospitals.
Krishna Babu reviewed the availability of testing supplies, including Viral Transport Medium (VTM) kits, RNA extraction kits and RT-PCR kits.
To strengthen testing infrastructure, Krishna Babu instructed measures to ensure testing of at least 1,000 individuals per day. He directed that old Government General Hospitals (GGHs) conduct 100 tests daily, while new GGHs should carry out 50 tests per day. Required kits for one month should be procured and supplied accordingly.
He also emphasised the need to keep existing virology labs and oxygen plants at GGHs operational and accessible as necessary. The meeting included a review of the availability of testing kits, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), essential medicines, ventilators and N95 masks.
Currently, over 200,000 PPE kits and more than 60,000 VTM kits are in stock. Krishna Babu ordered these resources to be distributed to hospitals as needed. He also stressed the importance of closely monitoring COVID spread in other states and analysing case trends within Andhra Pradesh over the past ten days.
He instructed health officials to coordinate fully and be prepared for any eventuality. COVID testing should continue at GGHs as required, with arrangements extended to other government hospitals depending on evolving circumstances.
The review meeting was attended by Health and Family Welfare Commissioner G Veerapandian, APMSIDC Managing Director V Girish, DME Dr Narasimham, DSH Dr A Siri and DPH Dr Padmavati.
