SATURDAY, APRIL 20, 2024
The proposal also suggests a series of measures for effective management of COVID-19 in the State. It states that patients recommended for home isolation be provided an ‘IMA Covid-19 Kit’ that will contain medical supplies and biomedical waste handling made available by IMA Goa at a cost price and that it be purchased from the local body municipality/panchayat at a price of Rs 2,500. The proposal further says that the concerned health officer/medical officer shall designate a IMA doctor within the jurisdiction as per the list made available by IMA Goa State.
The IMA doctor who comes on board shall be accessible via telephone to the patient and care giver at all times and shall pass on the relevant medical information in case of medical emergency to the concerned health officer/medical officer for further course of action, including shifting of the patient to nearest Covid-19 care facility/Covid-19 hospital. The role of designated IMA doctor shall be limited to facilitating telephonic consultation as and when required and updating the health officer/medical officer on the health status of the patient. The designated IMA doctor shall not be liable for any medico-legal action in case of any eventuality arising from the above circumstances. The health officer/medical officer shall intimate the designated IMA doctor about the recommendation of home isolation and shall furnish information of the patient, including relevant medical history if available, the details of the designated IMA doctor including name and telephone number shall be also made available to the patient.
From this it appears as if IMA officially proposes to sell medicines and other gadgets like pulse oximeter for a ‘cost price’ of Rs 2500. Is IMA attempting to engage in business out of the COVID-19 pandemic? Without having a look at the patient, IMA wants to sell a kit with medicines, which includes paracetamol and vitamin tablets. The only role IMA and the private doctors propose to help is through telephonically keeping check on those with mild infections without even seeing them. Is this possible and is this how working together with the government is meant to be? It goes without saying that such work is being done everywhere by paramedics.
IMA has to understand that to fight COVID-19 the private sector has to chip in with more worthy solutions and contributions. Should doctors in private practice and specialists only do this much for the COVID-19 efforts, while most of the work is left to the government doctors and staff? Besides, IMA complains of lack of effective management of co-morbid patients with COVID-19. Instead of criticising the government functioning, IMA must rise to the occasion, and share the work with government doctors in treating COVID patients. IMA must make its own plan of how it can aid the government in the battle against COVID-19.
More importantly, IMA wants a COVID hospital in GMC itself. Is this proposal feasible? Where will the many patients go for treatment if GMC is converted into a COVID hospital? As it is, GMC has enough pressure with cases of COVID-19 being reported in various departments. The spread of infection could lead to more fatalities as most patients are with co-morbid conditions. Isn’t it possible for IMA to get directly involved in the care of COVID patients? This is the worst crisis that mankind is facing and the IMA has to do much more than selling a COVID kit and keeping in touch with patients over the telephone.
