People struggle to get a Covid test at KIMS

Hubballi: The government has appealed to the public to approach the nearest hospital to undergo Covid-19 test in case they are exhibiting symptoms or have a travel history.
However, many people visiting the Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) in Hubballi, the designated Covid hospital for Dharwad district, are finding it exceedingly difficult to take the test, while many have had to return home without undergoing one.
“I took my 17-year-old son to KIMS after he complained of having lost his sense of smell. But the staff there refused to test him for Covid, stating that he had no symptoms. They did not budge despite my repeatedly telling them about my son’s condition. After I had argued with the staff for more than 30 minutes, a senior doctor intervened, and collected a swab sample,” a Hubballi-based businessman told TOI.
What was worse, the father was shocked when the test results confirmed that his son was indeed infected. “Had I not insisted on a medical examination and returned home, my son’s condition would have probably worsened. Action needs to be initiated against personnel refusing to test those voluntarily submitting themselves for an examination,” he added.
In yet another case of the staff’s reluctance to subject people coming forward for medical examination. As many as five members of a family from Navalgund who went to KIMS after a relative tested positive for the novel coronavirus were turned back by the staff at the hospital. “All of us are primary contacts of the infected patients, but the staff told us that we had no symptoms and refused to test us. We argued for hours, and finally, the intervention of a senior doctor compelled the personnel to conduct the test,” said one of the five people who had come to KIMS.
Concerned over reports of people being denied Covid tests, public have called on the district administration to initiate action against those responsible at KIMS.
KIMS director Dr Ramalingappa Antartani said, in accordance with the newly issued guidelines, they were subjecting all those exhibiting symptoms to a Covid test. “We advise people voluntarily approaching us out of fear to first quarantine themselves, and should they develop symptoms during that period, approach the hospital for a test,” he added.
Dharwad deputy commissioner Nitesh Patil said, “Those approaching the hospital voluntarily and showing symptoms must be tested for Covid. We will verify the allegations against KIMS. We have made arrangements to test suspected patients at 20 places across Dharwad.”