From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 12: Private hospitals have been asked to reserve 50% beds for Covid patients as was done during the first wave, health and medical education minister Dr K Sudhakar said on Monday.
Speaking to the media after holding a video conference with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Home Association (PHANA), he said private hospitals have been advised to vacate beds occupied by non-Covid patients who do not require hospitalisation and reserve the same for Covid patients.
The minister said private hospitals have agreed to reserve 50% beds for Covid patients within a week.
"Patients without symptoms and with mild symptoms will be isolated in hotels and Covid Care Centres. Only patients with severe conditions will be treated in hospitals,’’ Dr Sudhakar said.
He said drugs companies have stopped the production of Remdesivir. "We need this drug. Private hospitals have complained that the medicine is not available in the market. We will discuss the issue with Drugs Controller and supply the medicine to private hospitals at government rates,’’ said Dr Sudhakar.
The minister said the state government has taken measures to ensure a sufficient quantity of ventilators and oxygen. If required industrial oxygen will be utilized, he added.
The Technical Advisory Committee has evaluated the situation for the next two months and advised on the necessary steps to be taken. The experience acquired in the last year will help us to fight the second wave, he said.
Dr Sudhakar said the state government is very well aware that people are suffering due to the economic slowdown. Enforcing lockdown is not under consideration as of now, the minister explained.
Staff who have committed blunders in Covid testing have been suspended. Good work done by the state government should not be overlooked due to this one reason.
"We have done 2.2 crore Covid tests out of which 85% are RT-PCR. This is no small achievement,’’ he said.
"People should cooperate in controlling the pandemic. We have not said that lockdown will be imposed. But we are appealing to the public not to make lockdown inevitable, the minister said.
Covid-Bevu (Neem) vaccine – Bella (Jaggery)
Dr Sudhakar offered a different explanation on the significance of Ugadi festival, celebrated in the South as New Year.
"Ugadi marks the beginning of New Year as per Indian tradition. We celebrate it by having neem and jaggery symbolising good and bad, joy and sorrow of life. This Ugadi, vaccine is the ‘Bella’ for defeating Covid which is ‘Bevu’. Everyone should take the Bella (vaccination) and help in controlling Covid,’’ he said.