The entire 2020 was a Covid year. Not only Delhi and India, but also the entire world was going through a tough time and everyone was fighting the virus. Despite various challenges, Delhi fought the virus and brought down both the positivity and death rates down. In the initial days, everything was new to everyone and people thought the virus would go in summer. The lockdown was also extended but nothing changed. The biggest challenge was how to contain and treat the virus.
The Delhi Government proactively worked and adapted itself to the situation and came up with several initiatives which brought the cases down. The Delhi Government’s initiatives have been copied and followed widely by the entire nation and the world. For example, plasma therapy and home isolation, were started first by Delhi in the entire world. The first plasma bank in the national Capital was opened on July 4. Later on August 27, America also suggested plasma therapy for Covid 19. Similarly, home isolation was first started by Delhi Government which largely helped it to control and cure the virus and was followed widely by other States.
Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain spoke to The Pioneer’s Principal Correspondent Sapna Singh on various issues pertaining to Delhi’s fight against Covid-19.
Delhi Government is approaching its target with a low corona positivity rate and zero death, what are the challenges ahead?
The Covid-19 cases have been recorded less than five per cent in the past three months and since one month, the positivity rate is one to half per cent. If it is going below one per cent, we can say the situation is normal because the base is low but still Corona is unpredictable and I will appeal to the masses to wear masks and follow social distancing norms. There was a time when 8,600 cases were recorded but now the situation has been improved.
Challenges ahead are how to create awareness among the masses and to understand how the Covid-19 is acting at different stages. Along with the Central Government, we are learning about Corona’s behaviour via research and development model. Certainly, there are challenges but Delhi Government is also ready to deal with it, be it at vaccination or health infra.
The medical institutions in Delhi are playing pivotal role in the Covid-19-pandemic times but as per the economic survey (GNCTD) 2019-20, the number of medical institutions in Delhi has increased at low rate. Does the Delhi Govt has any plan to expand the institutions?
At present, Delhi has 10,000 beds and our target is to expand these to 15,000, we have started constructions of three new buildings and two are purely dedicated to Covid- 19 treatment facility — Burari and Ambedkar Nagar. These institutions will be fully operational once the pandemic gets over. One medical institution in Dwarka would have started functioning but covid outbreak halted the project. We have AIIMS-like institutions, for instance, GB Pant. I would say that our institutions are better than those of Centre. Getting treatment in AIIMS or Safdarjung is a tedious process but in our hospitals, people get easier, faster and timely treatment.
Despite the fact that Delhi’s population has been increasing at the rate of 10 per cent in every five years, how the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation will provide health services to its citizens, when the bed ratio is still 2.94 per thousand population against the World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed standards – five beds per thousand?
Delhi Government is creating the best health infrastructure in the world. If we go by the WHO standards, we should compare Delhi with other Indian States, and not only India, at the global arena for the coronavirus treatment, we have provided best treatment by increasing bed numbers. Delhi’s health model is top treating Covid, and we are being widely appreciated at international level.
The AAP Government has increased its health budget from 11.54 per cent in 2013-14 to 14.89 per cent in 2018-19 as per the economic survey report (GNCTD) 2019-20. However, there are core areas in health sector where PPP model plays a crucial role. For instance, Delhi Government has joined hands with the private players for providing Dialysis services. How does the Government help common citizens with low cost treatment having a major stake in private entities in critical health infra.. as we have seen in Corona times?
Health is our priority and this year too, the health budget will be higher than the previous one. Our focus will remain on health. We have a transparent system where patients can check the availability of beds. For instance, at present, out of 5,700 beds, 399 beds are occupied and 5,363 are still free for Covid treatment. The Delhi Government is ready to deal with any circumstances because our objective is clear and that is to provide basic health facilities to our people.
Delhi Government has joined hands with private hospitals. Though we cannot make a dedicated facility for dialysis, Government provides free such treatments for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in private hospitals also. LNJP and Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospitals have been established to treat life threatening diseases.
In the digital era when Delhi Government will soon turn out to be one State to have a cloud-based well-being administration system as the facility in healthcare services with the induction of Health Information Management System (HIMS), how is the AAP Government ready for this?
The Delhi Government is ready for the digital transformation, for it will save time and will help medical staff to provide faster treatment having history details of patients. With a cloud base system, the information and medication will work hand in hand thus will help in both ways.
With 338 Mohalla clinics (Pilot + regular), the AAP claims revolution in health care services. Do you think these clinics may reduce the patients load in big hospitals?
Definitely, the impact will be visible after the number of the clinics reach upto 1,000. Presently, on an average, 50,000 people visit OPDs in these Mohalla clinics across Delhi. If patients get timely, needy and speedy treatment nearby, it will certainly reduce the burden on bigger hospitals.