COVID-19 Pune: PMC wants private labs to delay sharing of test report with patients

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) - as a part of its new containment strategy - has asked private laboratories to delay sharing test reports information with the patients, and convey the reports to the civic authorities first. This decision has been taken in order to gain advantage of time to prepare and make necessary arrangements to take the patient to the nearby hospital. It will also save the hassles a patient and their family has to go through to get hospitalised.

PMC has taken this decision which was also implemented in Mumbai by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The number of Covid cases in the city is rising sharply and thus the civic administration is finding ways to curb the spread of this disease. The recent decision of delayed information sharing with patients is also a part of this containment strategy of PMC. Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar held a meeting with the private laboratories operators and owners and asked them to follow the new norms.

If a patient is already admitted in a hospital, then the laboratory can inform and share the test report with the patient immediately. Since the patient is already under treatment, it won't make any difference. But labs should share the test report of anyone from the 'Out Patient Department' (OPD), Vikram Kumar has informed the labs.

PMC officials said, "The new strategy will help PMC to buy some time to make arrangements for taking the patient to the hospital. Also it will benefit the patient and their family as they won't have to run pillar to post for admission in hospitals." "If a patient is diagnosed with Covid-19, then the information about his or her test report should be conveyed first to the PMC. The patient should be informed after some time about the report," said Vikram Kumar, Commissioner, PMC.

Patients should avoid:

• Not disclosing information about COVID symptoms
• Stepping out
• Unnecessary hospitalisation even if not required
• Not coming forward for testing
   

PMC will do:

• Will ask the patient to isolate at home
• If required, patient will be hospitalised
•  Testing of persons who came in close contact will be possible