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A group of health care workers have written an open letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee raising concerns over the gross under-testing and misreporting of data” on the cause of death of COVID-19 patients.

© Samir Jana/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Chief minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee.

They identified themselves as Bengali physicians, health scientists, and healthcare providers with roots in the state. They said that while they have concerns about inadequate testing across India, they find the situation in West Bengal particularly ‘most disturbing’.

“In the last week and a half, we have come across or watched with growing concerns, reports on the COVID-19 situation in West Bengal. There are two specific issues that are most disturbing to us: 1) the gross under-testing in West Bengal, and 2) the misreporting of data on the cause of death in COVID-19 patients,” the letter said.

Doctors in the letter cited a report published in the news agency Reuters and said, West Bengal has conducted just 33.7 tests per million as against national average of around 156.9 per million, despite having the capacity to conduct around 1,000 tests a day.

“The number of truly affected cases depends on the extent of testing, the accuracy of the test results and, in particular, the frequency and scale of testing of asymptomatic cases who may have been exposed,” the letter added.

“The gross underestimation in the number of truly affected cases may have potentially dangerous consequences, specifically in 1) not being prepared with adequate healthcare capacity to handle the pandemic burden in the state, and 2) failing to arrest the spread of the infection by asymptomatic cases who may be spreading unknowingly,” it said.

The letter further said, “only a state-appointed committee is allowed to declare if a patient has died from COVID-19″. Even when coronavirus patients were dying with symptoms of respiratory failure, the committee was not citing COVID-19 as the cause of death.”

“Not reporting the underlying COVID-19 as the cause of death is a falsification of data. In the face of a pandemic, World Health Organization (WHO) and Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) guidelines instruct hospital staff, medical examiners, and other health officials to report the primary and underlying causes of death in the death certificate,” it said.

“As professionals in the field, we strongly urge the Chief Minister and the Ministry of Health of West Bengal to 1) increase testing in the state by all means, and 2) take responsibility for accurate and consistent reporting of COVID-19 data. We urge the leaders of our beloved state to lead with science and humanity,” it added.

As of now, West Bengal has reported 423 confirmed cases with 15 deaths reported due to the virus.

Follow the government's latest guidance on safeguarding yourself during the coronavirus pandemic, including travel advice within and outside the country. The World Health Organization has also busted some myths surrounding coronavirus. The Ministry of Health's special helpline is available at +91-11-23978046, ncov2019@gmail.com and ncov2019@gov.in.