Wake up from slumber, mitigate Covid-19 challenges: IMA slams Health Ministry

The Indian Medical Association IMA on Saturday slammed the Union Health Ministry saying it is astonished to see the extreme lethargy and inappropriate actions from the department in combating the agonizing crisis caused by the devastating second wave of the Covid19 pandemicNoting that the collective consciousness proactive cognizance and requests made by the IMA and other professional learned colleagues are put into the dustbin the association said the decisions are taken without realizing the ground realitiesIn the last 20 days an IMA statement said the association has been insisting on the need for complete well planned preannounced national lockdown rather than few states declaring lockdown ranging for 10 days to 15 days so as to getting breathing time for the health care infrastructure to recoup and replenish both the material and manpowerLockdown will break the chain of devastating spread said the IMA a national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in IndiaHowever it said the Central government had refused to implement the lockdown resulting in mounting of new patients beyond four lakhs every day and the number of moderate to severe cases are increasing to nearly 40 per centMentioning that sporadic night curfews have not done any good the IMA stressed Life is precious than the economyWake up from slumber and respond to mitigate the growing challenges in covid pandemic the IMA saidThe equitable accessible and affordable vaccination for all above 18 years were demanded by the IMA based on scientific facts from April 6 onward and after persistent call of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his innovative qualities assured the nation the vaccination drive was started from May 1 it saidIt is unfortunate the ministry has failed to make the necessary required roadmap and ensure vaccine stock resulting in the majority of the places where vaccination could not be rolled out for people above 18 years the IMA saidWhen the Prime minister notification is not implemented scrupulously who is to be blamedConsidering differential Covid19 vaccine pricing system as unhumanistic the IMA said the people of the age group between 18 and 45 years are forbidden to get the free vaccination from the central share of 50 per cent and they are placed under the mercy of the state governmentsThe jeopardy of private practitioners and states to negotiate with manufacturers for pricing and stock resulted in exorbitant price rise and vaccine shortageGiving example of eradication of smallpox and polio in 1997 and 2014 the IMA said it could only happen by adopting the universal free vaccination and not by differential pricing systemWhen Rs 35000 crore were allotted in the budget the IMA said with which the maximum required 200 crore vaccine dozes are purchasableWhy the central government is shedding its responsibility asked the IMA adding unless the government comes out and implements with willingness and steadfastness for equitable distribution we will not be able the achieve the goalToday for the last seven days the IMA said no vaccine is available in small and medium private hospitalsThe crisis of oxygen is deepening every day and scores of people are succumbing to Oxygen mismatch supply and it is creating panic both among patients and fraternity Though there is enough production it is often the distribution which is not proper said the IMAEven after 15 days of the crisis the IMA said The government is not seen at the forefront to solve these issues and resulting in people knocking at the doors of courts to get justice resulting in judicial activismHealth care professional oganisations are neither consulted nor the honourable Health minister in this whole pandemic had time to interact with modern medicine professional organisations to solve this issue Imported oxygen concentrators and oxygen plants are yet to reach the beneficiariesThe IMA later appealed saying as the time is running out with the impending crisis lest we deepen the crisis solve it on a war footingThough various mutants are identified yet the real hazard is not explained in actual terms Dedicated experts shall be designated to study this and propose mitigation measures at the earliest the IMA suggestedThe IMA also raised question over the government hiding actual Covid19 deaths Why are we trying to hide actual deaths If the public comes to know about the actual deaths their seriousness to adopt Covidappropriate behaviours will riseThe IMA demanded to revamp the entire health care administration with Indian Medical Service MS cadets who are well versed with the technical and administrative skill for effective execution of health careWe also demand to establish a new integrated Ministry to serve in this pandemic with a dedicated proactive vibrant innovative and altruistic Minister and alleviate the fear of people by leading from the frontWe propose for augmentation of infrastructure materials and manpower by enhancing health care budget to be raised from 1 per cent of GDP to minimum 810 per of GDP and judiciously use the earmarked budget amount for ensuring equitable and affordable Universal vaccinationThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever