Delay in the start of viral research & diagnostic lab (VRDL) commonly known as Covid 19 lab in Palamu medical college at Pokhraha Khurd has been taken up very seriously by MP Palamu V D Ram who has demanded an early functioning of this lab when number of containment zones in his parliamentary constituency is on the upper side in recent weeks.
Principal of the Palamu medical college J R Prasad said the Prejha Foundation which has undertaken this setting up of the lab here is working full swing but it may take few more weeks when this lab will start testing samples for Covid 19.
Prasad said the lab’s maiden test of the samples will have to be first assayed by the ICMR which is a mandatory provision.
DC Palamu Shashi Ranjan said we are closely monitoring the progress of this lab and believe in just a few more weeks this lab should be in a position to test Covid 19 samples. V D Ram has demanded filling up of the posts of faculty and other staff here saying today it is online teaching but for this too specialist teachers are a big need.
The Principal on this issue said the state health department has appointed 11 assistant professors for this medical college out of which 3 or 4 have given their consent to join here.
The BJP MP who has been a strong campaigner for this college here has been hammering for the start of the practical classes of the anatomy subject.
Ram said, “This is our first batch of the medicos. They must be looking forward to human dissection but here it is grossly missing. This is sad.”
This medical college starting in October 2019 has not been able to conduct any anatomy practical class for its 90 plus admitted students here.
MP Ram has always pressed for availability of body, formalin tank, body keeper here for anatomy practical classes.
Principal said this is true that this college has no ‘body’ for dissection. There is neither an embalmer nor any formalin tank and without adequate and proper arrangement for the preservation of the body as it is a great health hazard to have one here to rot and infect all.
Principal said “I am trying to arrange at least one body for this college from RIMS Ranchi but in came this pandemic and things are in limbo.”