RTPCR machine out of service at Rangpur Medical

The lone Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR) machine at Rangpur Medical College (RpMC) for testing Covid-19 of the people living in four districts of the Rangpur region has remained inoperative for the last four months causing severe suffering to the people.

The authority has yet to take any effective measure to remove the technical glitch of the machine or to replace a new one, said the medical sources.

According to the Director of Health Office, Rangpur, the number of corona-infected patients in the region has been increasing during the ongoing fourth wave of the virus.

The Directorate of Health set up two PCR machines at Rangpur Medical College and M Abdur Rahim Medical College, Dinajpur two years back. People residing in Rangpur district including the city corporation area, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat district were supposed to have virus sample tests by the RTPCR machine at Rangpur Medical College. Some 180 people’s sample tests could be done in a day. The sample test in the machine had been going on smoothly since its commissioning. But the machine went out of order four months back and could not be run despite taking measures.

Sources of the Microbiology department of Rangpur Medical College said the college authority informed the health directorate about the malfunction of the machine. Earlier, a two-member experts’ team came from Dhaka to remove the technical glitch of the machine, but it did not work.

Dr Shamim Ahamed, a civil surgeon in Rangpur, said, “The principal of the college informed the concerned directorate about the problem of the machine. We, however, continue the rapid antigen test.”

Rangpur Divisional Director (health) Dr Zakirul Islam Islam said some emergency tests are being done at Rangpur CMCH and M Abdur Rahim Medical College Hospital, Dinajpur.

“We however requested the higher authority to repair the machine or to replace it soon,“ he added.

Many patients expressed their misery and suffering for failing to examine their sample in the district. Shajahan Miah, a resident of the Nurpur area of the city said, he had been suffering from extreme fever for the last three days. His physician asked him to undergo a corona test but did not find the availability of the sample test in the city. He had to send his sample to Dinajpur for the test.

Rayhan Ahmed Promy of the Robertsonganj area of the city said, he was scheduled to travel to India during the Eid vacation. But he has to cancel the trip for his failure to get a PCR test in the city for the immigration process at the border.

Civil society member and Convener of Janatar Rangpur, a volunteer organisation, Dr Mamunur Rhaman said, the PCR machine remained inoperative for almost four months at RMC that has caused severe trouble to the people of the region.

When asked, Principal Rangpur Medical College, Dr Bimol Chandra said, the machine went out of order on March 18 this year.

“We took attempts to repair it but it could not work. We informed the higher authority to take immediate steps. An expert machinery team is expected to reach RpMC to make it operative. We hope that the machine will start functioning within three days,” he added.