Jharkhand's RIMS not equipped to deal with coronavirus

The Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the biggest government-run hospital in Jharkhand, is not equipped to deal with the outbreak of coronavirus in the state.

The virology research and diagnostic centre of microbiology department of RIMS is not even equipped to test normal viral diseases.

The experts said that due to lack of equipment, the test for coronavirus is not possible at RIMS.

They said that the process of the purchase of the equipment is going on for one and a half years, tenders have been floated twice, which were cancelled due to lack of interest on the part of companies.

The facility to treat COVID-19 patients is available only at MGM Medical College and Hospital, Jamshedpur.

The hospital management of RIMS said now order has been placed to Bio-Rad Laboratories for the purchase of applied biosystems of real-time PCR instruments. By Monday, the hospital will be in a position to treat coronavirus patients, the hospital management added.

So far, 14 samples (nose and throat swabs) from Jharkhand have been sent for test, and all of them have turned negative. They all came from foreign countries.

The hospital management has set up 18 isolation wards to quarantine patients if they test positive for COVID-19. IANS