Panjim: Blaming the delay in getting the patient to hospital for mortalities, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday urged the people to get patients to hospitals as soon as they display symptoms.
Addressing the media Rane said “People come at the last stage for treatment of COVID-19 to government hospitals, which are major reason for mortalities.”
The Health Minister said that Goa is only State after Kerala, which is spending heavily on saving lives. “Not a single rupee is being taken from the patient and the best available treatment is given without differentiating between patients,” he said.
He added that though co-morbidities are a major concern and cause of death, experts are taking care of patients. “While saying that, I must say that 37 deliveries have taken place in ESI hospital besides several complicated surgeries,” he said.
Rane added that despite the best of their efforts, people with co-morbidities are dying. He added that around 21 patients are critically critical in GMC and 23 in ESI.
GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said the department is working on increasing the plasma donation. “The plasma donors have increased after the awareness campaign,” GMC Dean said.
On the bed position in GMC and ESI, he said that 183 patients are admitted right now in GMC Bambolim, 186 in Margao ESI and 60 in Ponda Sub District Hospital.
Giving details of the deaths, Bandekar said that till date 88 deaths have taken place in GMC so far. “Four were brought dead and 79 were co-morbid. 44 out of the 88 were patients who died within 48 hours of being admitted, which means they came late,” he said.
Besides the 88 deaths in GMC, 115 were in ESI COVID hospital. “45 people received plasma in ESI hospital and 50 per cent have recovered after plasma,” he said.
The Dean added that doctors at no point are neglecting co-morbidities. “Experts are treating the patients very well but despite this, there are mortalities,” he says.
When questioned, Rane said that the file for capping the treatment at private hospitals has been moved to the Chief Minister. “Once the Chief Minister approves, the notification will be issued,” he said.
He, however, maintained that the government is spending much more on a single patient then the private hospitals would charge.
