A notification that was dated on 3rd December by the state health department eliminated the prerequisite of a medical prescription for a COVID-19 test.

The notice by additional director (public health), Dr Dinkar Raval, had stated that the order follows the testing guidelines by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

The notification said that according to the guideline, individuals who wish to get tested for COVID-19 does not require any recommendation or prescription by a doctor.

The notification came almost after five months of a previous notification that allowed MBBS doctors or family physicians to prescribe the COVID-19 test. The notice came after repeated representations from the medical association for improving testing in the state.

Only MD doctors were allowed to prescribe the test before the notification. In the early phase of the coronavirus pandemic, only those individuals were allowed by the state health department to undergo testing if the individual was not critical.

Source: The Times of India