PANJIM: Despite directions from the Central and State governments, the first line of defence – the medical team in the Goa Medical College – is yet to get full protection kits to save themselves from the virus.
Sources in the GMC told Herald that despite several requests the government is yet to provide Personal Protection Equipment (PPEs) to the doctors in various departments at the hospital, wherein thousands of patients arrive daily for different ailments.
The worst hit is the casualty ward in the GMC, which is the first place where a patient arrives in case of an emergency.
Sources revealed that despite several requests the authorities are yet to provide them with PPEs and other protective gears. “We are the first people to see a patient, when he or she arrives in the hospital and there have been many cases wherein they have tested positive. How do they expect us to check or treat a patient without proper protective gears? How can authorities put the lives of their own doctors and nurses at risk,” asked the doctors.
Substantiating their claim, the doctors said, the 85-year old patient, who died on Monday, was first brought to casualty.
“That is so insane, the authorities knew very well his family had tested positive for COVID, despite this he was brought to the casualty as a cardiac patient. There is absolutely no coordination between the casualty and other authorities or departments,” they said.
Sources further said staffers in the casualty were issued show-cause notices for rejecting to treat patients a few weeks ago. “It was only when the staff met the Health Minister Vishwajit Rane that the show cause notice was withdrawn,” sources revealed.
Almost four to six doctors from GMC and elsewhere have contracted the deadly virus.
Interestingly, the casualty staff members at GMC have not also been considered for the COVID-19 hike announced by the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant.
Many other doctors in GMC, including at the operation theatres, complain that they have not been provided with PPEs. “We are given gloves, masks and shower caps, which have no quality. Some of us get our own PPEs, face shields, N95 masks and gloves, as the government has provided us sub-standard quality,” they said.
When Health Secretary Nila Mohanan was asked for comments she refused to admit there was shortage of PPEs. “There are enough PPEs and other gears available at the GMC and other hospitals. Especially at GMC there is no shortage,” she stated.
