Team Herald
PANJIM: Following directions from the Supreme Court, the State government has set up an Expert Panel for effective monitoring, supervision and guidance of government and COVID dedicated hospital ESI Margao, for providing proper health care to the patients.
As the State asked to implement the discharged guidelines of Union Ministry for Health and Family Welfare, issued on May 8 , the pre-symptomatic, mild and moderately symptomatic COVID-19 patients who haven’t had fever for 10 days or develop any symptoms would be discharged without any testing but with mandatory seven-day home quarantine. The State government is awaiting directions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs to adopt the guidelines, as directed by the Apex Court.
Further, the State government has decided to permit one willing attendant of the patient in the hospital premises, who can remain in area earmarked by the COVID hospital. The State will seek undertaking from such willing attendant.
Addressing the media persons on Saturday, Secretary Health Nila Mohanan said that the Supreme Court has issued slews of directions to all the States and Union Territories in the case taken suo-motu cognizance on the treatment of COVID-19 patients and monitoring of the COVID hospital.
“As directed by the Court, we have set up an Expert Panel, which will inspect, supervise and issue necessary recommendations to the government on functioning of the COVID hospital,” Mohanan said adding that the panel would be notified before June 22.
Sources reveal that the panel comprises of Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) Dean Shivanand Bandekar and former directors of Directorate of Health Services.
Mohanan said that COVID-ESI Hospital is already equipped with CCTV cameras, one of the directions of Supreme Court.
Secretary said that the Apex Court has asked all the States to follow Union Health Ministry’s guidelines dated May 8 with regards to discharge policy. “As on date, Goa was following the earlier guidelines; but now will have to implement May 8 guidelines. We are waiting for instructions from MHA under National Disaster Management,” she explained.
Mohanan said that as per the new guidelines, all the pre-symptomatic, mild and moderately symptomatic COVID-19 patients who haven’t develop any symptom for 10 consecutive day after being tested positive, would be declared cured and discharged without any testing.
“But will have to go seven days home quarantine,” she said.
“In case of symptomatic severe patients, before declaring cured, one test would have to be conducted,” she added.
Secretary said that the State is also making provision for one willing attendant, after obtaining the required undertaking. The file in this regard is in process, she said adding that the attendant can be a family member, relative or a friend, who would be stationed in the designated space earmarked within the COVID hospital premises.
