Government has asked Private Hospitals to ready 20,000 beds for coronavirus patient: Dr Arvind Lal, Lal PathLabs

Dr Arvind Lal, Chairman and Managing Director (CMD), Dr Lal PathLabs, talks about permission granted to private path labs to test COVID-19 by Maharashtra Government, its preparedness for the same and government steps to deal with it during an interview with Swati Khandelwal, Zee Business. 

Edited Excerpts:  

Q: Maharashtra Government has given its nod to Metropolis Labs to aid in private testing for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19). Has Dr Lal PathLabs has received any such permission, if yes, then when the process will be started?

A: The place where you read that the name of Metropolis has been approved carries few ore names including ours. But, it has mentioned Lal PathLabs as Lal. So, the Maharashtra government has approved these names. Secondly, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) will decide the date when these private Pathlabs will start the testing process at their end. They are just in-principal permissions. You are talking about Mumbai because health is a state subject. So, it has been made possible in Maharashtra because when Swine Flu struck the nation in 2009, then we were able to treat numerous patients from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan, along with patients from Northern, Central and Eastern belts and Maharashtra remembers it. And, ICMR will take the central decision and I am hopeful that all private labs will be allowed. 

Q: How are you prepared for the tests?

A: We are prepared completely but will need the reagent positive control from ICMR after the permission is given. So, once it is given to us then we will be absolutely 100% ready with it. Form our side, now, we are absolutely ready. 

Q: Do you have the test kits that are required for the test?

A: Yes. It is available at our end. 

Q: Name the states where you will conduct the tests if the central government approves the plan for across the country?

A: During the Swine Flu spread we just had a National Reference Laboratory in Rohini, Delhi but this time, we also have the Kolkata reference laboratory for the purpose. I want to say that we will be testing it in two laboratories and samples can come from across India like last time. This test can’t be performed in every lab as it is a sophisticated test. 

Q: What is the process of test, the number of tests that are conducted to find out the virus and what will it cost?

A: I can’t provide any details of the cost at present as it will be decided by the government but the test results will be reported in a gap of 24-48 hours once after the samples reaches our laboratories. We can perform 1,500 tests daily in both these labs. 

Q: Can you throw light on the kind of training that has been provided to the staffs?

A: We have already conducted such tests earlier and that’s why our staff is fully trained. The reagent or chemical changes in this test but there is no need to provide any specific training to staff as they are trained. 

Q: This virus is easily communicable. So are you planning any additional/third lab beyond the two labs in Delhi and Kolkata, if the demand goes up?

A: There are two things and I would like to inform that this is not a blood test but is nasal swab and throat swab test and the laboratory person who will collect these will have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) in which his head will be covered and his entire body will be covered by the gown. Even his eyes will be covered; a mask will be there on his nose and gloves in hands. This protective equipment should be changed forever patient. The collected sample is put in a special viral transport media and transported to our labs. The same exercise is adopted at the lab after the sample reaches there for being tested. The person carrying out the test needs to protect himself in the best possible way. You people would have seen that the surgeons dress-up themselves before performing surgery and this equipment is similar to that. 

Q: Can you tell us about the kind of investment that is required to upgrade your facilities for these tests and how prepared are you for the same?

A: We don’t need any additional equipment for the purpose but just need the chemical, which just costs like other chemicals but it is not of that order and depending upon the number of tests which comes to us. We can increase and decrease the order and we also don’t know how much the positivity is. But we hope for the sake of the country that the positivity is not much and every person can’t be screened for this test. So, only people who have those symptoms will be selected by the doctors and their prescription will have to accompany the patient and only then can we take the test. You cannot walk in Dr Lal PathLabs and demand to test you for the same as you do it for blood sugar as it will not be performed at our place. The government has provided a prescribed format for it, which will be signed by the doctor who has to examine you and then say that I suspect coronavirus positivity here and then he will contact us. 

Q: Are you testing such people who are reaching you with the prescription?

A: No, we are not conducting such tests at present and will perform it after we are allowed to do so by the government. The patients who are enquiring us for the purpose are being sent to the government hospital and labs. 

Q: You have said that chemical and kits are important for this test. Do you think that India has enough supply of these essentials or will have to depend on imports? 

A: It is a 100% imported reagent and is not manufactured in India at present. However, several Indian companies have claimed that they can manufacture it and when it will be made it will be present in front of you and me. And, sincerely hope and pray that this can be made in India because India is now a very responsible senior country that is going to be a $ 5 trillion economy. So, we must make all these things. 

Q: Can you name the country that is supplying these kits?

A: In our case, it is coming from America and Germany. 

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Q: Can you please throw some light on the important discussions that were made during the meet with Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan?

A: The government has shared its current capabilities with the healthcare service providers and what is the state of readiness. And, I can say with confidence that we found that the government, the health ministry and everybody is quite active. We found them second to none and they described, how they are collecting people at the airport and screening them there and how how they are made to fill a form at the airport among others. So, all these things are happening and then also you will have to know that the government of India has already asked the private hospitals for 20,000 beds to be made ready. And, the first thing that has happened in it is that 15 Italian tourists who were in India plus their driver of Rajasthan who was infected are admitted in Vedanta hospital.