Top doctors claim ‘lack ofurgency’ in adopting rapid tests
Group criticises Nphet advice
HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly has been urged by a group of doctors to clear the way for widespread use of rapid Covid-19 tests.
A group of 13 senior medics, including Prof Jack Lambert from the Mater Hospital, have criticised the “lack of urgency” being shown by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) towards the use of the rapid testing.
In a letter to Mr Donnelly, the group said rapid antigen detection testing (RADT) “represents a massive opportunity for our entire island”.
“We urge all our political leaders to embrace and quickly implement this simple and available option, in an effort to quickly turn our health, societal and economic fortunes around,” they said.
They said rapid tests can be used to stop Covid-19 transmission in “the office, building site, nursing home or factory” and added that if “properly deployed as a screening tool, could prevent future lockdowns and provide us with a clearer and quicker path towards a safe reopening of society”.
“Those saying it’s a bad idea should question whether they know better than the European Centre for Disease Control, EU Council and EU Commission who have all endorsed RADT,” they added.
Along with Prof Lambert, the other doctors to sign the letter include Dr Martin Feeley, who resigned from Dublin Midlands Hospital Group following criticism of what he described as “draconian” Covid-19 restrictions.
Former Fianna Fáil cabinet minister and Donegal GP Dr Jim McDaid is also among the signatories.
The letter is also signed by plastics surgeon Dr John Curran, chief medical officer of Besins Healthcare Dr Liz O’Brien Bergin, sports physician Dr Alan Farrell, Cavan GP Dr Mick McConville, consultant eye surgeon Dr Arthur Cummings, consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mihai Voireanu, Cork GP Dr Ailin Becker, Dr Sara Hunt and Dr Vincent Carroll.
A number of those who signed the letter have previously criticised the Government and Nphet’s approach to the pandemic.
In their letter, they say mass testing of a population using laboratory assessed PCR is “not practical” and is also “too slow and too expensive”.
They say PCR testing is “too sensitive” and “often identifies cases that are not infectious while rapid tests identifies only infectious cases”.
Nphet, led by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, has resisted the widespread use of antigen tests since they emerged last year.
However, they were cleared for use in certain hospital
settings two weeks ago and 500,000 testing kits have been bought by the HSE.
The health minister recently asked chief scientific officer Prof Mark Ferguson to examine whether rapid tests can be used to prevent outbreaks in schools or other community settings.
Mr Donnelly wants wider use of rapid tests in community settings and Prof Ferguson, who is also director general of Science Foundation Ireland, has been asked to report back on where they can be used by March.
He was specifically asked to review whether the tests can be used in schools.
It is hoped they can eventually be used as a screening tool and reduce the possibility of the virus spreading in classrooms.
Prof Ferguson was recently appointed to Nphet.
Mr Donnelly’s spokesperson said: “The minister agrees rapid testing must be part of the response and has set up a rapid testing group.”