The Union Home Ministry on Monday directed the States to provide security and ensure smooth movement of medical professionals and operation of establishments including private clinics. The Ministry also told the States to facilitate the smooth movement of the trains carrying migrant labourers and prevent them from walking through the railway tracks.
Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a letter, told the State Chief Secretaries that private clinics and nursing homes must be allowed to open for the service of all kind of patients.
“MHA has written to all States/UTs pointing out that unhindered movement of all medical professionals is essential for meeting public health requirements and saving precious human lives. Any restriction on the movement of medical professionals and para-medical staff can lead to severe constraints in rendering COVID and non-COVID medical services. In the view of above, the communication emphasises that all State/ UT Governments should ensure smooth movement of all medical professionals, nurses, para medical, sanitation personnel and ambulances.
“This would help in rendering all COVID and non-COVID medical services to patients without any constraint. It was also stated that the inter-State movement of all above mentioned professionals may be facilitated by the States/UTs. It has been further emphasised that all private clinics, nursing homes and labs, with all their medical professional and staff, be allowed to open.
This would facilitate in catering to all patients, COVID and non-COVID emergencies, without any hindrance and relieve the burden on hospitals,” said the MHA in statement.
On the migrant labourer, the MHA asked the states to prevent them from walking through the railway tracks and speedy facilitation of ‘Shramik Express’, the special trains for the migrant labourers.
The Centre also asked the States to co-operate for more trains for the transportation of the labour force.