THD NewsDesk, Mumbai: Rajesh Tope, the public health minister, said that “rich” asymptomatic COVID-19 positive-tested patients are blocking the beds in ICU. This has made it especially tough for the other more critical and insolvent patients to avail beds in crucial times.
The minister said this in response to a question about the poignant demise of a journalist due to Covid-19 in Pune. A family member of the deceased alleged negligence on the hospital’s part. The ambulance was not made available in time for the 42-year-old, as per the kin.
Tope articulated, “Sometimes, asymptomatic patients who can afford facilities get admitted to the ICU when they don’t even require it.” Hinting towards the heedlessness of the wealthy, he suggested that this must stop. He further added that this is resulting in the unavailability of beds in the ICU and the more severe patients are not being able to access them.
The state has always discouraged the asymptomatic patients from availing the ICU beds, the officials said. The minister added that there is a surge of COVID-19 patients in the rural sections of the state is concerning and alertness about the infection is the need of the hour.
With the statement of the minister, rise questions on the credibility and response of the government to the ongoing pandemic. The dearth of ample basic healthcare necessities, the inefficiency of the government, and the infrastructural and monetary impediments from the state are painting an ugly picture for the ones who cannot afford pricey medical provisions. The disparity between the haves’ and have nots’ of society further widen up.
The cursor of these accusations keeps shifting places. The poor are unable to safeguard themselves. Many of them are succumbing to either the infection or its repercussions. Many vulnerable bodies have perished. And many continue to collapse. Meanwhile, the nation mourns the demise of accountability.
Source: health.economictimes.com