North Bengal Medical College to start COVID-19 tests from today

Amitava Banerjee | MP | 29 March 2020 | Darjeeling/Kolkata: The state-of-the-art Virus Research and Detection Laboratory (VRDL) at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri is all set to start testing for COVID-19 from Monday.

"Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already announced that the VRDL at NBMCH will start tests for COVID-19 from Monday. A microbiologist and lab technicians from SSKM Hospital in Kolkata have already started to impart training on the test. All types of tests for viral diseases that are at present conducted in Kolkata can henceforth be done here," said state Tourism minister Gautam Deb.

The minister further stated that the World Health Organisation in the year 2016-2017 had proposed setting up of VRDLs in India. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the Health minister, had earmarked NBMCH as one.

"Accordingly work for the project commenced in 2016-17. A floor of the old dental building, now under Microbiology department, was chosen for the project. The project was completed in 2019 after maintaining all necessary medical protocols and procuring licenses. For COVID-19 the VRDL recently received the testing kits and the permission from NICED, Pune," stated Deb. He appealed all to work together rising above petty politics in this hour of global crisis. "It is my humble request to the Honourable MP of Darjeeling constituency, who at present is in Delhi, not to indulge in petty politics. He should come to his constituency and stand by people in this hour of distress and not try to take credit sitting 1,500 km away. This is the time to work together, like Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading from the front," added Deb.

Meanwhile, Eastern Railway has decided to engage doctors, nurses and other staff in the Orthopedic Hospital in Howrah division urgently, in view of the pandemic situation.

According to ER officials, they will recruit 10 doctors, 10 nurses, 4 pharmacists, 6 Operation Theatre (OT) assistants and 14 housekeeping assistants, through a walk-in interview scheduled on March 31.

The applicants need to appear before the interview board, along with their certificates. Retired doctors and paramedical staff are also eligible for the engagement.

(Courtesy, source and link : Millenium Post - http://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/north-bengal-medical-college-to-start-covid-19-tests-from-today-406565 )