To Make Quick Bucks, Dr Lal Path Lab Conducts Covid Tests In Open Forest

GANDERBAL: In order to make quick bucks from hapless labourers, staffers from Dr Lal Path Lab conducted RT-PCR tests in an open forest and charged Rs 1800 per head without seeking permission from Chief Medical Office Ganderbal here in Central Kashmir.

There are scores of labourers from different parts of Kangan town of Ganderbla district who visit Kargil and Leh areas to earn a living. This year due to pandemic, these labourers were stopped at Minimarg Check Post and informed that only those labourers will be allowed to proceed towards Ladakh, who have conducted RT-PCR tests for Covid-19.

 “We don’t know what this test is but in order to proceed towards Ladakh, we decided to undergo tesst so that we can produce RT-PCR report before authorities at Minimarg. We proceeded back to Kangan,” Fareed Ahmed Gakhad, a labourer from Ganewan Kangan told Kashmir News Trust.

He said since it takes time to get the test conducted at Government Designated Centres, they decided to visit to Dr Lal Path Lab Nagabal. “The staffers asked us to assemble in an open forest area at Ganewan. They conducted test on each labourer and charged Rs 1800 per head,” Fareed added.

As the information about RT-PCR tests being conducted in open reached to district health department, they asked staffers from Dr Lal Path Lab to explain their position and immediately halt the test process.

“How can staffers from Dr Lal Path Lab conduct tests without the permission from Chief Medical Office. This is disgusting and in violation of law. We are mulling to cancel the registration of Dr Lal Path Lab Nagabal,” Chief Medical Officer Ganderbal Dr Mehrajuddin told KNT.

Meanwhile, the video showing staffers from Dr Lal Path Lab conducting tests and charging money from labourers has gone viral on social media. (KNT)