On May 08, 2020, The whole world is struggling with the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic & its testing becomes very important to identify the patients and get control of the disease. Delivery of test kits has now become a top priority in all parts of India on time and the government is taking all measures for this.
In this sequence, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the apex body in India for the formulation and promotion of biomedical research, has entered in to the partnership with India Post to deliver corona test kits from its 16 regional depots (located in 14 postal circles/states) to the 200 additional labs set by ICMR in the country.
Key Points:
i.There is a huge network of 1,56,000 post offices in the country, which will help ICMR in getting this kit at the earliest.
ii.As per the agreement, as soon as the testing kits reach the depot of the postal department , they will be delivered to the labs of different states. Nodal officers have also been appointed for this work from the Postal Department and ICMR, so that delivery work can be ensured on time.
iii.India Post has also started delivery of some test kits. Test kits have been sent or are being sent from Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Patna, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Jhalawar, Udaipur, Kota, Dungarpur, Churu, Guwahati to Imphal and Aizal. In order to avoid spoiling the kits, it is packed in dry ice.
iv.Under this initiative, the ICMR has set a target of taking 1 lakh tests every day.
About Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR):
Headquarters– New Delhi
Secretary & Director General– Dr. Balram Bhargava
About India Post:
Headquarters– New Delhi
Parent Ministry– Ministry of Communications
Minister responsible– Ravi Shankar Prasad (Cabinet Minister for Communications)
