Director of Health Services, Dr Aman War, today hit back at criticism of the government’s mandatory screening of entrants into Meghalaya made by the Director of NEIGRIHMS, Dr P Bhattacharya.
Bhattacharya was quoted in a section of the media today saying that subjecting people coming into the state to rapid antigen tests (RATs) was a waste of resources as those who are tested may not have incubated the virus long enough prior to being tested for a positive result to turn up even if they have the Covid-19 virus.
Dr War said that the NEIGRIHMS Director does not have any mandate to comment on the state government’s policies.
“He is not in the state government’s circle and I think he should retract his statement,” Dr War said.
According to him, the RAT is cost effective and it is being followed up by the more reliable RT-PCR, but that saying testing at entry points is a waste was completely wrong.
“He has no mandate to comment on the policy decisions of the state government and such statements are being lapped up by people” who are thriving on negativity, the DHS said, adding that “And in doing so they lead people to confusion instead of enlightening them.”
He also said that the protocols are clear and the RAT is sensitive and fast.
