Fake Corona Testing: Corruption or Way forward
Recent revelations of fake Corona testing reports at certain public hospitals in Uttar Pradesh state is sending trepidation for aberrations in controlling the spread of the pandemic in India. It is in continuation to similar disclosures from Mumbai, Haryana in the last few weeks. The dark secret of fake reports of Corona testing has also been reported outside the country as the thriving black market for seeking eligibility to travel.
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It all started with the requirement of essential Corona testing for preventing its spread to others under the unlock of the country. Whether one has to seek medical aid or travel, the necessity of anyone being Corona negative is indispensable to check it moving to others coming in contact during various processes. Unfortunately, these restrictions imposed by the regulators for ensuring the Corona testing to prevent others, seem to have become a bottleneck for even those who are asymptotic and genuinely need any medical aid including those in health emergencies.
Corona negative test report is a prerequisite for getting medical aid , meaning thereby that this paper formality is more like eligibility for treatment.
First-hand inputs from certain public hospitals divulge the necessity of Corona negative test report as a prerequisite for getting medical aid from them, meaning thereby that this paper formality is more like eligibility for treatment. Obviously, one who does not have any symptoms for COVID will not be undergoing its testing, while there could be medical aid requirement for some other ailments whether severe or trivial. Deprivation for getting treatment on account of the absence of the Corona test report exasperates the patient as well as family members and eventually nucleates the unethical practices.
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Such proviso is the genesis of people getting negative Corona report by hook or crook to proceed ahead in their genuine health aid requirements. Getting a fake report of one being Corona negative in the country having ubiquitous corruption with corruption ranking of 80th in Corruption Perception Index cannot be ruled out. This needs to be understood that anyone resorts to unfair practices leading to corruption only in certain exigency or misuse of authority by someone i.e. the corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gains. Thence, the medical aid requirements compel individuals to follow the circuitous route of corruption for getting a Corona negative test report. The staff engaged in the test process may also, find it reasonable to help the needy persons by facilitating suitable reports in expedient mode from the humanitarian perspective. While the approach of issuance of the fake test report being out of the way is liable to be viewed illegally from the legal eye. From the sufferer’s standpoint, everyone will find it inhuman to let anybody be deprived of medical aid on account of certain requirements which though are not unreasonable, but the absence of testing medical aid seekers there itself for Corona before proceeding ahead for treatment of other ailments appears obstinate mindless observance of prescribed regulations. Nevertheless, the patient will never object to any kind of test being undertaken normally, provided the process of medical aid is begun immediately. Thus, the corruption in Corona test report processes actually seems a way forward for seeking various remedies that are linked to it as an eligibility requirement.
Corona test may be carried out in expedient mode in Hospital itself, and in case of negative Corona test report, the treatment of other ailments be commenced immediately to avoid any fatality.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been umpteen cases where individuals suffered great losses including loss of life due to the absence of enabling provisions for providing medical aid even without a prior Corona test report. Therefore, the larger dependence of the poor population of India on public health infrastructure and services requires suitable provisions of extending medical aid to anyone in the public hospitals whether with a negative Corona test report or without any Corona test report. However, the Corona test may be carried out in expedient mode in the hospital itself, and in case of negative Corona test report, the treatment of other ailments be commenced immediately to avoid any fatality.
Regulating bodies may introspect the provisions suitably so that the citizens of the country are not deprived of medical aids in public hospitals. The provisions should be remodeled for avoiding the genesis of corruption.
