Kathmandu, June 25
It has already been 11 days since the Ministry of Health and Population decided to allow private labs to test people for coronavirus. However, no private lab in the country has begun the test as the ministry has not finalised a guideline about the tests yet.
Private lab operators have been arguing that the criteria set for them are not practical, obstructing the ministry from finalising the guideline. However, the ministry has already uploaded the proposed guideline on its website.
Earlier, three private labs had applied for carrying out coronavirus tests. But, all of them have now said they cannot follow the proposed criteria.
The chief of Nepal’s biggest government lab, National Public Health Laboratory’s chief Dr Runa Jha says one of the concerns raised by the private labs is genuine and the government should address it.
Meanwhile, the ministry’s spokesperson Dr Jageshwor Gautam says the ministry is ready to discuss the concerns with the lab operators and address the genuine ones.
