Calls for a new policy to ensure health care service during COVID invasion
- Imphal Times Editorial :: September 20 2020 -

A separate COVID-19 hospital has been a demand for most civil society organisations in the state.

The government too think the idea of having a separate COVID-19 hospital may relief thousands of non covid patients in the state.

Even as the government is yet to have one, the government had time and again expressed the need for opening of a separate COVID hospital.

It is on record that even the Chief Minister of Manipur had once expressed his idea of converting one among the two major hospital- RIMS and JNIMS as COVID hospital, so that the non COVID patients may find relieved in getting health care facilities at one among the hospital.

The idea is not bad as people desperately required one hospital for treatment of different ailments.

It may take some time for the state to have a separate COVID hospital with all infrastructural requirements and man power, but opening of COVID care center at UNACCO Meitram and Trade Center Lamboi Khongnangkhong is appreciable move from the side of the government.

But technically opening of COVID care centers is not helping much as COVID care center is different from COVID hospital.

Perhaps that is the reason for the multiple complaints received from those staying at the center.

It is almost 6 months that the Coronavirus has been invading us keeping all life to standstill.

Hospitals – both private and government have come across various challenges in providing treatment to patients who are yet to know whether they are positive or negative.

There were instances of some dedicated doctors providing treatment to patient in needs risking their life.

One doctor at JNIMS even dare the virus and provided health care to COVID patient finally landing him as victim of COVID-19. He was however recovered.

Now some symptoms of COVID has been identified and if not adequate the two major hospitals – RIMS and JNIMS and some other private hospital like SHIJA hospital have medical equipment to support symptomatic COVID patient.

But 90% of the COVID-19 positive patients are reported to be Asymptomatic. Of the 52 people died of so called COVID -19 , around 90 % are comorbid death , which means the cause of the death are indirectly related with the COVID as the virus was detected to the patient.

Patient in needs of emergency who are yet to be tested are going to face extreme inconveniences and suffering as the new protocol for providing treatment at all patients are going to be mandatory for COVID -19 testing.

Opening a separate hospital for COVID -19 positive patient is he need of the hour other than opening of the COVID Care Center.

However, it should not be mandatory that those emergency patient in needs of urgent medical treatment be shifted to the special COVID -19 hospital if in case tested COVID-19 positive.

A strict directives should be given to all hospital to provide treatment if the case is of emergency types instead of transporting them to the COVID hospital .

And for that the government should provide all support including finance for such treatment. Co morbid death should be understand and it should be understand that such death can be prevented is provided timely medical treatment irrespective of whether he or she is a COVID-19 infected person.

The health care system in the aftermath of the COVID-19 invasion need to be changed and government in consultation with all medical expert should frame a proper policy on how the health care facilities should be ensured to all the people irrespective of whether they are COVID-19 positive or negative.

As of now it is a fact that many have recovered COVID-19 . That means that there is a possibility of getting cure to any COVID-19 positive people if any ailments associated has been treated with extreme seriousness.

It is time for the health department to convene a meeting of all those in the medical profession for formulation of a policy to ensure medical facilities to all people – both COVID and non COVID patients.