Solan’s fight against virus marred by poor health infra

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan,November 23

With several limitations, including a shortage of staff, the enhancement of healthcare facilities amid the pandemic has become a herculean task in Solan district.

Fear of severe wave

• Officials are fearing a severe wave when industrial workers return from high-burden states, including Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Punjab.
• The rising number of deaths is also worrisome as 47 fatalities have been reported till now.

Issues such as the purchase of Covid medicines and installation of ventilators are fraught with technicalities. This has delayed their availability to patients in the district where Covid cases have once again surged.

More than 600 new infections have been reported in the district, which has the third highest number of cases after Shimla and Mandi, in the last fortnight.

“Since chief medical officers in several districts are facing vigilance cases for making costly purchases, officials here are fearful of procuring the required medicines such as remedesvir, favipiravir, doxyclyline, ivermectin and paracetamol,” said a health official.

Though officials in all districts have been directed to make purchases on their own, the fear of a backlash is proving to be a deterrent. “Purchases made through the department’s purchase cell can help streamline the process, and then these can be distributed to the districts further, said Medical Superintendent, Solan, Dr NK Gupta.

The installation of ventilators is another issue being faced. An official said the process involved several works such as laying a pipeline, civil work, etc, “We have to call tenders for such works and this has delayed their installation. Once installed, the staff will have to be trained to handle it aptly,” said a senior medical official in Baddi.

The rising number of deaths is also worrisome as 47 fatalities have been reported till now. “The government should make available oximeters at subsided costs to every family as it has become a necessity in this pandemic,” said another medical officer in Solan.

Officials are fearing a severe wave when industrial workers return from high-burden states, including UP, Delhi and Punjab.

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