Gonoshasthaya kit approval caught in bureaucratic tangle: Dr Zafrullah

Around 50,000 people could be tested in one day for Covid-19 using the Gonoshasthaya kit but its approval is being delayed due to bureaucratic complexities, founder and trustee of Gonoshasthaya Kendra Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury has said.

Zafrullah said this at a scientific discussion meeting on the technical application of the coronavirus test kit at the 'Guerrilla Commander Major ATM Haider Bir Uttam Auditorium' of Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital in Dhanmondi on Wednesday.

He added that Gonoshashthaya needed financial assistance of Tk50 crore from the government to prepare the kit.

Zafrullah said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) already started the work and it would take a few more days for them to complete it.

'A lot has happened regarding this kit. No one asked me for a bribe for approval or advancement. However, the bureaucracy is delaying the approval of public health kits," said the freedom fighter.

He said that in addition to the Gonoshashthaya kits, 18 other foreign organisations submitted their kits to the Drug Administration but they were doing this with business in mind. 

He finds a conspiracy involved in this.

Meanwhile, 400 kits are being tested at BSMMU but the results have not come out yet. 

"Considering the overall situation of the country, if necessary, 600 more kits will be sent", said the kit coordinator of the organization Dr Muhibullah Khandaker.

Earlier, May 13, the professor of Gono Bishwabidyalay Dr Bijon Kumar Sill and Dr Muhibullah Khandaker went to BSMMU and submitted the kit. 

Former Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University and former chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor AK Azad was the chief guest at the meeting. 

Dr Nazrul Islam, former Vice Chancellor of BSMMU and Head Professor of the Department of Virology, presided over the function.