Kathmandu, Oct. 12 -- Last week, doctors at Alka Hospital, Lalitpur asked M, a renal patient, to undergo a polymerase chain reaction test for kidney dialysis.

Fifty-two-year-old M, who is a local of Pandini Rural Municipality-3 of Arghakhanchi, gave swab samples at the nearby Patan Hospital.

M's younger brother, who is also a renal patient, asked him to go to a private laboratory, which gives reports earlier than the state-run laboratory, as he was worried about risks to infected people having pre-existing conditions like renal problems.

"After giving swab samples at Patan Hospital, my brother gave samples to Star Hospital," M's brother P told the Post. "Health workers at Star Hospital called us the next evening to inform us that our b...