Adhering to the guidelines of the Government of India, the measures taken by the Odisha Government to contain the spread of Covid-19 are appreciable. In this context, the State Government has issued many circulars and has promulgated ordinances. It will not be exaggerated if some of the key measures are mentioned here. The State Government of Odisha has declared the Covid pandemic as a State disaster; ensured provision of treatment for the Covid 19 patients in both Government and private hospitals; arranged temporary shelters for the migrant labourers in the school and hostel buildings; provided cooked food in the rural areas in affordable prices; implemented the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Rural Guarantee Scheme (MGNERGS) for the rural labourers; made the mask wearing compulsory; and declared NSA to be imposed against persons causing violence to any member of medical community such as doctors , nurses and health workers who are treated as Covid warriors. Undoubtedly, the Government servants , doctors, police, ASHAs and Anganwadi workers are working tirelessly fighting a war against the Covid -19 Several months after the State along with the whole country went into full lockdown in March 2020, unfortunately Covid still exists although sometimes it looks to be flattened.
But the experts say that the corona virus may take more time to disappear fully. Even some apprehend that Covid may reappear in the form of a second wave. The second wave has already hit Europe and the USA now.
Apparently, the Odisha Government's healthcare machinery with infrastructure is well placed to treat the Corona patients and a well planned formula of ‘test, trace, track and treat’ makes this treatment effective. But the alarming fact is that the non Covid patients are very hugely neglected in their treatment. In almost all cases before treating the non Covid patients , the doctors and the hospitals first insist on a Covid testing report.
They delay the treatment. And sometimes they refuse to treat. The patients suffering from critical diseases like cancer, renal disease, lungs and heart ailments seem to suffer most and many of them perish due to non treatment. Even the doctors do not attend the pregnant mothers groaning in pain and the kidney patients living on regular dialysis are being delayed in their treatment which lead them to die
Fear of Corona infections grips both the doctors and the patients as well. It is alleged that some clinics and wellness centers are closed due to this fear. Even in some clinics, the doctors without examining the patients give prescriptions and medicines through window in name of maintaining social distancing.
The non Covid patients also deliberately delay their regular visits to the hospitals for fear of contacting virus. Many patients are seen even delaying the treatment of their small illness like removal of gall bladder stone which may be serious in future. These patients risk their health and life as well. If such patients attend the hospitals in right time they may be cured.
Undoubtedly this is is a time of unexpected uncertainty. There is fear of death. There is fear of losing jobs, thereby losing livelihood. Many people fail to cope with the crisis. Therefore, they have developed the chances of mental health problems like paranoia and depression which also require urgent treatment.Amidst the chaos of the Corona pandemic, the plight of the non Covid patients is therefore serious. Perception grows that the State is letting down the patients suffering from diseases other than Covid. These patients also need healthcare and treatment in time
Corona virus is surely a deadly one . But not attending the non- corona patients on the ground of possible infection is cruel and inhuman. It denies one his or her of right to health.
Hearing a bunch of pleas recently on negligence of treatment of non Covid patients , the Bombay High Court reportedly has expressed its displeasure and directed that ‘all possible options are to be explored so that suffering of people with ailments other than Covid -19 at large can be minimized.’ The whole world is waiting for the Corona vaccine to come. It is not known when it will be achieved. And in the meantime, the virus has shattered the entire healthcare systems of the world, no matter a nation is poor or rich. The developed countries like America, UK, Italy and France are not relieved of this Corona pain
Hence, we should not, only by focusing on Covid patients, deny our other patients proper care and treatment. The current times have taught us lot promising us a new normal life.
So, if it is certain that we are to live with the Corona virus for a longer period, the Government must endeavour to make a strategy of maintaining balance in treatment for both the Covid and non -Covid patients; it must be ensured that one’s access to health services when and where one needs it is not jeopardized; and the State must be keen in strengthening its necessary apparatus in a bid to dispelling the misinformation, myth, stigma and rumour created in volumes around Covid -19.
Moreover in order to be transparent in its financial management of the Corona epidemic, the State should go for the regular performance audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) and the local Accountants General (AGs).
Surely this horrible time will not permanently stay here. It will pass away. Therefore, first do not do any harm to any patient’, as says Hippocrates, the father of modern medicines
(A Gandhian author, columnist, lawyer, who lives in Puri, Phone: 9861469328)