Even as the latest wave of Covid-19 is surging at an alarming pace to spread into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and towns and surrounding areas, the Union Health Ministry seems to be taking its own time to train the healthcare workers including doctors in these regions on how to manage the pandemic efficiently and cut down fatalities given that virus is more infectious and lethal this time.
It is only on Friday that the Ministry at a press conference shared that it will soon come out with a module to train the healthcare workers working in the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities so that the Covid-19 cases are handled as per protocol.
Delhi AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said: Doctors of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities are not much aware of how to tackle the disease as the virus has been so far contained in the urban areas. However, now the virus is spreading fast in small towns also.
“We have identified 14 Centres of Excellence like AIIMS and PGIMER in Chandigarh with whom the Ministry officials will develop programmes for Covid management which will then be shared with doctors including those in districts or villages including in private and public sector.
“We will reach out to all the doctors from these areas,” said Dr Guleria. However, while the virus is fast spreading, already hitting various cities as seen by sharp spurt in cases in these regions, the Ministry seems to be moving too slow in this regard.
A few weeks ago Prime Minister Narendra Modi too at a meeting had expressed his concern saying that Covid-19 is spreading rapidly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as well. He urged doctors to connect with their colleagues working in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities and give them online consultations to ensure that all protocols are followed correctly.
Moreover, the Ministry is already grappling with issues like mismanagement of the Covid-19 crisis given huge misuse of drugs like Remdesivir and Tocilizumab which are being prescribed by the doctors to their patients even those in the home setting. Time and again the Ministry has been warning that these medicines are not to be used for patients in home isolation but those admitted in the hospital. Also, experts warn that oxygen demand from these Tier1 and Tier 2 cities will also increase, putting pressure on the health infrastructure.
However, some of the officials at the district level are not taking chances. DM Yash Meena from Nawada district in Bihar said, “We are anticipating a surge in the cases in the near future. We have been holding awareness camps with the healthcare workers as well as panchyatas and community against improper use of medicines while people are being educated against several rumours on Covid treatment and prevention so that they do not become a victim of panic.”