The state health department has planned to set up Viral Research Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), a specialised lab for Covid-19 tests, in every district of north Bengal to encourage hassle-free tests for the disease for residents.

As of now, there are four VRDL labs functional in the region — the first was opened at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in Siliguri, after the pandemic had hit the state last year.

“After NBMCH, such labs (one each) were set up at the medical colleges of Cooch Behar, North Dinajpur and Malda districts. Now, we have decided to set up four more VRD laboratories, one each in Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and South Dinajpur districts,” said Sushanta Roy, the officer on special duty deputed by the state health department in north Bengal.

“In Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri districts, the infrastructural work required for the labs are already done. The work for setting up the labs in Kalimpong and South Dinajpur districts will commence soon,” Roy added.

Pralay Acharya, the chief medical officer of health, Darjeeling, said more VRDL in the region would ease the workload of existing labs and help in carrying out more tests.