RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, July 6: The much-awaited genome sequencing machine was today inaugurated at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS).
Health Minister Banna Gupta completed the formality of inauguration amid presence of Kanke MLA Samri Lal, RIMS Director Dr Kameshwar Prasad, besides others.
With the inauguration of the machine, the department of Genetics and Genomic also got operational under the headship of Dr Anupa Prasad.
Worth approximately Rs 5.60 crore the machine will be used to test thalassemia, sickle cell anemia, neurological tests and DNA other than different variants of the Covid-19. This machine can test 384 samples at a time. It will help know the corona variant within 72 hours.
Inaugurating the machine, health minister Gupta counted the achievement of the state government in the health sector.
“Doctors, nurses, para-medical and housekeeping people of our state have worked together to save the lives of people during the Corona period. More than 110 PSA plants have been installed in Jharkhand.
Apart from this, 15 RT-PCR machines, more than 300 True Net machines and Cobas-6800 have also been installed,” minister Gupta said.
“The government is also working on anemia. After the installation of the genome sequencing machine, the people of the state will be given better health service,” Gupta added.
The health minister also boosted the morale of the health workers on the occasion expressing his commitment to their better care.
“No health worker will be deprived of their due rights during my tenure. Rs 150 crore has been released from the funds of the Disaster Management Department for clearance of arrears of the employees working on the front line,” he said.
On the increasing cases of Corona, the Health Minister said that the government is taking serious note of it.
“We are keeping an eye on the circumstances. The infected patients are recovering properly,” he said.
On non-compliance of corona guidelines, the minister said: “Corona will not end only by applying a mask. Rather, other guidelines will also have to be followed.”
On giving booster doses to people without fee in Jharkhand, the Health Minister said he has already taken cognizance of the matter.
“I have talked to the Union Health Minister about giving booster doses free of cost,” he said.
