Accessibility and affordability of Covid tests

Syllabus- General Studies 2(Governance) Issues relating to quality of life: livelihood, poverty, hunger, disease and social inclusiveness. Context The second wave of Covid-19 is sweeping through the country. Health systems are overwhelmed and the need for critical medical supplies is expanding by the minute. Amid rising cases, testing — a potent tool to contain the spread — is escalating steadily and inching close to two million tests daily. Current Situation The government’s emphasis on reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), considered the gold standard of tests and essential for sequencing purposes, also continues to remain high. The appetite for testing among populations has....Read More