Doctors flag concerns over ICMR's new Covid testing rules

The body representing doctors in India has objected to the new testing guidelines issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) that says asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical and non-surgical invasive procedure should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop.
Stating that this is risky for doctors, Sahajanand Prasad Singh, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), told ET that they will write to the health ministry and ICMR asking them to tweak the guidelines.

“This can be risky for the treating doctors and hence there is a need for a change in the new advisory on purposive testing strategy for Covid-19. We are going to write to ICMR and the health ministry. This defies all logic,” Singh said.

The ICMR directive is an advisory which is subject to the discretion of the treating doctor.

Senior doctors too have raised concerns on the new testing protocol.

“I strongly believe, especially during Omicron surge, all patients going for surgery should have the Covid-19 test done. This prevents virus dissemination to already dwindling anaesthetists/critical care specialists. Further, surgery even in asymptomatic Covid-19 positive patients may be risky,” said Anoop Misra, chairman, Fortis C-Doc, a Delhi-based hospital.

The exemption to asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical procedure can even be ‘dangerous’ for other patients, too, doctors say.

“Would you like to go to a hospital that does not test all admitted patients? Would you like to be in a ward surrounded by Covid positive patients. We should encourage more testing in hospitals,” tweeted AmbrishMithal, chairman, endocrinology and diabetes, Max Healthcare.

During the third wave, hospitals have seen patients coming in for routine check-ups who turn out to be Covid-19 positive upon testing. But such tests are not be to carried out now as per the new guidelines.

Healthcare specialists say that the new advisory has been issued to manage the numbers and flatten the curve. They suggest that patients should continue to be tested in order to prevent transmission to doctors, healthcare support staff and other patients.

“This will also ensure that other patients are safe besides the medical community,” said another doctor on the condition of anonymity.