PANJIM: As the COVID-19 death tally in Goa crossed 500-mark on Sunday, independent Porvorim MLA Rohan Khaunte has accused the government of “mismanagement” resulting in mortality.
“The 500 deaths and counting is mounting every passing day, mirroring the COVID-19 mismanagement by Dr Pramod Sawant-led government and also the greed of people in power to make money at the cost of the lives of gullible citizens,” he said while addressing a press conference in the State’s capital on Monday.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
He claimed that considering the average deaths from September till date, Goa has recorded 300 deaths which means 8-10 people succumb to the infection every day.
This is a very serious rate, and government has not done anything to control it,” the MLA charged, quickly adding that zero mortality is possible in a State like Goa if the government adopts corrective measures by keeping aside their vested interest.
He also pointed to alleged differences between Chief Minister Sawant and Health Minister Vishwajit Rane that has led to genuine and honest doctors treating the patients lose their enthusiasm.
“These differences are also affecting the common people,” Khaunte added.
He further said that the entire situation is confusing as standard operating procedures change frequently and people are clueless about what is happening.
“Home isolation is a failure and Chief Minister is using the kits to publicise himself as he has already announced that he would be mascot of the party for next election. In spite of planned reduced testings per day by the government, the number of positive cases keeps going upwards, without reducing proportionately,” the Porvorim legislator said.
Khaunte said that the recent decision of the government to keep in abeyance the Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY) scheme for COVID-19 patients’ treatment in private hospital was a fall out of lobby of corporate hospitals.
“Just because few corporates don’t want the scheme, it was shelved. I appeal to the Chief Minister to rethink and introduce the scheme so that the common persons can also take treatment in the private hospitals,” he said.
