Decks have been cleared for the setting up Covid-19 test laboratories in each of the three new medical colleges in Palamau, Hazaribagh and Dumka at a cost of Rs 2.50 crore each.

According to a three-page resolution (sankalp) dated May 12 and signed by principal health secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni, the three test laboratories are likely to be set up “within a month”.

The disaster management department will fund the projects from the amount it has received from the National Health Mission to deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Jharkhand Medical & Health Infrastructure Development & Procurement Corporation Limited (Namkum) and PANIIT Alumni Reach For Jharkhand Foundation (also known as PReJHA Foundation) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the projects.

Under the agreement, the PReJHA Foundation will not only set up the labs, but also provide human resources (HR), training and other support to them.

According to the resolution, either the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) or the state government will provide the testing, RNA (Ribonucleic acid) extraction and VTM (viral transport medium) kits to these labs.

The PReJHA Foundation will have to issue a tender to select an ICMR-approved agency to conduct the Covid-19 tests at the laboratories.

Once that’s done, another tripartite MoU among the state government, PReJHA Foundation and the selected agency would have to be inked.

Sources said the entire process would be time-consuming and there was a slim chance of these laboratories getting functional within a month.

“We inspected Palamau Medical College just a few days back and have found things going in the right direction there with regard to the lab,” chief project manager of PReJHA Foundation Meenakshi Kumar said on Saturday:

Palamau civil surgeon Dr John F. Kennedy said AIIMS Raipur had been made the mentor institute for the three labs.

“However, AIIMS Raipur is dragging its feet on the matter. I believe the distance is a factor as Daltonganj is 553km from Raipur, Dumka is 875km away and Hazaribagh is 693km,” Dr Kennedy said.

The resolution states that the PReJHA Foundation would initially be paid 75 per cent of the Rs 2.50 crore for each lab considering the fact that the medical colleges might have some equipment of their own that could be used in the setting up of the lab.

The remaining 25 per cent will be paid after due appraisal of the laboratories.