Three days of total lockdown has slightly improved the pandemic situation in Kerala. On Monday, the State diagnosed 27,487 persons with Covid-19 while 65 deaths were reported during the period ending 6 pm. “But the number of people tested on Monday was limited to 99,748 and this could be the reason for the small reduction in Test Positivity Rate to 27.56 per cent,” said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in his media briefing.
Vijayan said there were 4,19, 726 Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment in the State as on Monday. He continued blaming the Centre for its reluctance to provide oxygen, vaccine and financial help to Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram had highest number of Covid patients on Monday (3,494).
Severe shortage of medical professionals including doctors is causing severe stress to the medical fraternity in Kerala, according to Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, the umbrella organization of all the Government doctors in the State.
The Association has sent an urgent communication to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan listing the grievances faced by Government hospitals, first line covid treatment centers and primary health centers in Kerala. The list of shortcomings highlighted by the KGMOA is shocking and explains the dangerous conditions under which the doctors, nurses and para medical staff in the State work.
“The Government should appoint doctors, nurses and other medical professionals as per the nationally accepted doctors to patients ratio. If this is not done immediately, the public health system in the State would break down,” said the memorandum signed by the president and secretary of the Association.
The doctors demand the setting up of domiciliary care centers and step down Covid First Line Treatment Centers in panchayat and block levels. “These centers could be manned by health professionals other than doctors and could be used to accommodate the category-one patients who do not require the physical presence of doctors,” said the doctors. Such centers could make use of tele consultation. The KGMOA also called for the setting up of 24X7 call centers making use of the retired Government doctors.
They pointed out that the number of health workers getting infected with Covid-19 is high in the State.
“During the first wave of Covid-19 attack, we had 1,000 doctors to take care of the patients. But they have left and their absence is causing severe hardship. If only we have sufficient number of doctors, the health and safety of the medical staff could be ensured,” said the memorandum.
Taking into account the shortage of hospital beds and doctors, the Government should immediately introduce an admission referral protocol and set apart hospital beds for patients belonging to categories B and C to ensure that the hospitals are not overcrowded.