You can now get yourself tested at any ICMR approved private pathology for the coronavirus without a doctor’s prescription in Uttar Pradesh. The government has adopted the ‘testing on-demand’ method of screening in the state. This new liberalisation allows people to get a COVID test without a medical or doctor’s prescription which was earlier instrumental in conducting tests.
The state government has adopted the guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research for this open-loop testing method where people only need to specify the reason for the test, instead of furnishing a self-declaration or a prescription.
Liberalised Testing for All
Prescription-less and on-demand testing aim at simplifying the restricting modalities of conducting COIVD tests in the state. Scrapping the need to have a prescription and a specific method of testing was understood in the case of domestic and international travellers, where a negative COVID-19 report facilitates a hassle-free airport screening. “Tests on demand should be allowed for all individuals who wish to get themselves tested and all individuals undertaking travel to other countries or states, mandating a negative COVID-19 test at the point of entry,” the advisory said.
Though no formal government order has been issued with respect to the state following the ICMR drafted on-demand testing, a committee of health officials in the state believe that there is no problem in adopting the recommendation. “The ICMR guideline is sufficient in its own way. Government orders are issued only to facilitate implementation of different guidelines. But in this case, everything is clear,” said a senior health official.
-With inputs from IANS
