Surabaya City Government Asked To Collaborate With Private Hospitals To Accelerate PCR Swab Sample Test

SURABAYA - Commission D for People's Welfare at the Surabaya City DPRD (Regional House of Representatives) asked the local government to cooperate with private hospitals (RS) to speed up the test of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab samples.

The chairman of Commission D of the Surabaya DPRD, Khusnul Khotimah, said the request was to overcome the spike in the number of PCR swab tests at the Surabaya City Regional Health Laboratory.

"If previously the results of the PCR swab test had come out within a day or even less than a day, now patients who are confirmed positive for antigen and then have a PCR swab test must wait for the results for 4-5 days", she said, quoted by Antara on Saturday, February 19.

According to her, a case like this should have been anticipated by the Surabaya City Government, in this case, the Surabaya Health Service. Because she continued, the emergence of the Omicron variant would result in the third wave of pandemics.

"All experts have predicted, even the month can be predicted, namely in February 2022. The Health Service should have anticipated this problem", said Khusnul.

So that this problem can be quickly resolved, she proposed to the Surabaya City Government to immediately cooperate with private hospitals or other agencies that can assist the city government in accelerating the PCR swab sample test.

In addition, she continued, the Surabaya City Government could also cooperate with the Central Health Laboratory (BBLK) belonging to the East Java Provincial Government.

"Because this is collaborating with other parties, the costs can be charged to the Surabaya Regional Budget. I think it's not a problem. The important thing is that the PCR swab test results come out quickly. This is for the benefit of all Surabaya residents", she said.

In addition to collaborating with other parties, he also proposed to the Surabaya City Government to add more officers at the Regional Health Laboratory. "Because this is an extraordinary incident, extraordinary handling must also be carried out. It cannot be done normatively and normally", she said.

Khusnul also reminded all Surabaya residents, who had tested positive after the antigen test but had not yet received the results of their PCR swab test, to continue to comply with the health protocols. Don't let it be because there are no symptoms, but the results of the antigen test are positive, and they wander out of the house casually.

"We continue to remind residents. Never ignore the health protocol. Now there is a trend of increasing positive cases of COVID-19. If you are outside the home, always wear a mask and keep your distance", she said.