Medicos working in health centers, dispensaries caught in quandary

By: Afaq Bhat

Srinagar: Doctors and paramedics working in district hospitals, health centers and dispensaries that have not been declared as COVID-19 care centers have been caught in a very difficult situation.

A group of medicos while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Patients who visit the health facilities most of the times are unaware about their condition. We come to know about their plight after examining them clinically. Patients whom we suspect are positive are made to undergo a COVID-19 test and most of the times our assessment is right.”

They said that medical staff working in the non-COVID-19 centers is at the highest risk of getting infected as they have not been provided with the protective gear, nor are they equipped to handle the positive patients. “Only protection we have is that we were vaccinated but there have been many cases where people have got infected even after getting the anti-COVID-19 jabs,” the medicos said.

A doctor said that the administration should make the Rapid Action Test (RAT) kits available at all the health facilities across the Valley so that medicos remain safe. “We are treating the patients without knowing whether they are positive or negative. We are not complaining but the precaution is better than cure. If doctors start getting infected it can prove disastrous as they are the ones who have to treat the people.”

He said, “The medicos working in COVID designated hospitals are treated as frontline warriors. Despite we working so hard no credit is being given to us.”

It’s in place to mention here that tertiary care hospitals and many health institutions in the districts have been designated as COVID care facilities but there are many health facilities that despite dealing with the COVID-19 patients continue to function as normal health institutions.

An official said, “The administration is aware about the difficulties being faced by the doctors and paramedics. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently announced special incentive for the medicos irrespective of them working anywhere. The government considers every medico as the COVID-19 warrior and acknowledges their contribution.”

He said, “The administration is trying to provide all the facilities to the medical fraternity as everyone is aware of the fact that they are overburdened and under tremendous stress. Administration and people are thankful them and hope that these warriors will keep on fighting till the virus is defeated.”

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