Jammu GMC runs short of sanitisers, masks

Amit Khajuria

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 7

Government Medical College (GMC), where two suspected patients of coronavirus having “high viral load” are undergoing treatment, has been facing shortage of hand sanitisers and masks.

Though the sudden rise in demand of mask and hand sanitisers in the country has made them out of stock in most of the cities, but the shortage of basic medical amenities at this crucial junction is likely to create chaos in GMC, Jammu.

According to the highly placed sources, GMC, Jammu, is left with a limited stock of hand sanitisers and masks and the demand raised about 15 days back is yet to be met, despite alarming situation in the country.

“GMC, Jammu, has qualified doctors and paramedical staff to tackle any untoward situation, but it will be impossible if they are not equipped. The administration had raised the demand for hand sanitisers, masks and many other medical amenities, but nothing has been provided till now,” said a source in GMC.

“In the present scenario when we are awaking people to use alcohol-based sanitisers and wear masks, our own staff i working without it. If we cannot protect our staff, how will we save the lives of the patients,” he added.

Though the hospital administration claims that it has sufficient stock of the masks and sanitisers for now, but looking at the present scenario, more stock will be required.

A senior doctor of GMC said the paramedical staff might also go on a strike if the sufficient stock of sanitisers and masks was not brought in this deteriorating situation.

The situation became alarming in Jammu and Kashmir after seven patients were kept in isolated wards in the Union Territory, including two in Jammu.

With the advisory issued by the administration, people rushed to the chemist shops to buy masks and sanitisers, which led to their shortage in the city.