Bhopal: The central government has given a gift to Madhya Pradesh amid the fear of the third wave of the corona. The Center has decided to give five Genome Sequencing Machines to the State for testing Omicron. Now Omicron will be tested in Madhya Pradesh itself. Earlier its sample had to be sent to Delhi. Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishwas Kailash Sarang gave this information after meeting Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in Delhi. He said that now genome sequencing can be done in Madhya Pradesh also.

The central government will provide 5 genome-sequencing machines to Madhya Pradesh. Minister Sarang informed that on his request, Union Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has given the approval to give genome sequencing machine. According to him, these machines will be installed in Bhopal, Indore, Gwalior, Rewa and Jabalpur Medical Colleges. Vishwas Sarang also informed that on the lines of Indore and Jabalpur, a super speciality hospital will be started in Bhopal.

Genome sequencing is the only way so far that can ascertain the presence of the new Omicron Covid-19 variant in the body. However, it is not as affordable as it is effective. 96 samples can be processed at a time in this genome sequencing machine and it costs about 12 to 15 lakhs. This implies, that about Rs12000-15000 are spent on a single sample.