Set up advanced virology lab in Amritsar, demands NGO

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 22

Keeping in view the scarcity of virology labs in the North, the Amritsar Vikas Manch has shot off a communiqué to the Union Government, seeking to set up an advanced centre of virology in the holy city.

Principal Kulwant Singh Ankhi and Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, both patrons, and Manmohan Singh Brar, president of the manch, raised the demand in the communique to Prime Minister Narinder Modi, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Harsh Vardhan and Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardip Singh Puri.

They urged them that this centre would focus on addressing North India’s needs in virology, diagnostic, research and therapeutic evaluations to cope with Covid-19. The sudden onset of the pandemic had necessitated setting up the centre in Amritsar.

This is the oldest Medical College of North India, formerly known as Glancy Medical College, Lahore. It was established in 1864 and then relocated to Amritsar in 1920.

At present, the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, is the only institution in a country. So, setting up of an advanced centre of virology, on the lines of NIV, will help in providing a well-coordinated medical and public health services to the entire north India.

Government Medical College is also included in the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna, which has led to better care of patients and teaching and research projects. They reminded the Union Government in the communiqué that CMCapt Amarinder Singh had also made the same request to the Centre.