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The Ministry of Health and Family Planning has decided to procure polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing machines through Project Implementation Unit (PIU) instead of Central Medical Stores Depot (CMSD).
“CMSD verbally informed the project director that they are unable to procure PCR machines for the establishment in 30 district hospitals. So, the ministry has decided to procure these machineries through PIU of the project,” said Health Services Division Additional Secretary (Planning) Md Helal Uddin.
The procurement of PCR machines will be under the Covid-19 Response Emergency Assistance to combat the coronavirus pandemic in the country, according to the working papers of the Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting.
The meeting was held at the Health Service Division of the ministry at the secretariat on September 13.
The PIC has asked the project director to send the revised development project proposal (DPP) by a week, Helal also said.
It has also asked to set up necessary equipment of 25 PCR labs in respective hospitals of the country.
The project – Covid-19 Response Emergency Assistance – was approved at cost of Tk1,364 crore in June last year. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide Tk 850 crore while the government will provide Tk 514 crore to implement the project.
Earlier, the ministry sought allocation of Tk 500 crore for procuring Covid-19 testing kits and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) during a spike in Delta variant cases in the country.
Under the existing project, the government plans to purchase 60 PCR machines for public hospitals, and set up new testing laboratories and ICUs.
In addition, the project would also enhance the capacity and quality of 19 existing laboratories with microbiological diagnostic facilities.
Besides, the government will establish full-fledged corona units in 17 medical college hospitals across the country.
However, sources said most of the project’s fund remains unused for unknown reason.
