After public outcry, efforts on to improve Covid centres

Subhash Rajta

tribune news service

Shimla, October 7

Following the suicide by a Covid-positive patient at the Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Hospital on September 22 and the resulting allegations of negligence and lack of care at Covid centres, the state government and hospitals are trying hard to change the negative perception and assure people that patients were being looked after well at these centres.

Besides appointing a new health secretary and medical superintendent at DDU and ordering a probe into what led to the suicide, the government is making efforts to address issues like care and counselling, cleanliness, food, etc at the Covid care centres across the state.

Amitabh Avasthi, secretary (Health), said: “An effort is being made to improve Covid healthcare at different centres across the state. Our teams are monitoring the centres on a daily basis. The Chief Minister, Health Minister and I have spoken to around 15 patients across the state and they have expressed satisfaction at the services provided to them.”

In an apparent bid to convince people that these centres were well managed and well equipped and patients were being taken care of, the government had released videos and pictures from various centres. In the videos released from IGMC, Shimla, DDU, Tanda and Nerchowk centres, doctors were seen talking to patients and the latter, too, sounded happy with the care they were receiving.

The IGMC, Shimla, has taken quite a few remedial measures in the last fortnight or so. “We have to understand that Covid is a completely new entity, nobody knew anything about it. So, we are learning new things every day and are making our plans accordingly,” said Dr Janak Raj, IGMC Medical Superintendant. “There was never an issue with the treatment. People felt low and lonely because they didn’t have their relatives by their side and the doctors too were all covered up. So, the lack of face to face interaction made them feel low,” he said.

To address the issue, the doctors had increased their visits to the ward and interacted with patients to keep loneliness at bay. “Besides, we have ensured that attendants get regular updates about patients. They are also being provided newspapers and magazines for entertainment,” said the MS.

For the doctors at DDU, where the patient committed suicide, the period since the incident has been quite stressful. “The suicide was a huge shock for all of us at the hospital,” said Dr Ravinder Mokta, president of Himachal Medical Officers Association (Shimla unit).

“It put everyone under a lot of stress. Healthcare professional are giving their best under such trying conditions. All we want is some patience and encouragement from the public,” he added.