On Friday, the Tripura high court took up its motto, the case of the alleged suffering of Covid-19 patients in an Agartala hospital, and asked the state government to submit an affidavit answering certain queries related to the cases of Covid-19 in the state before September 18.
The high court division bench led by Chief Justice Akil Kureshi and Judge Subhasish Talapatra took up the matter after a series of allegations of poor health services for Covid patients surfaced in local media. Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital (GBP). The GBP is also a dedicated Covid call center in Agartala.
“…. Recent newspaper reports, particularly those published in the vernacular, have reported the plight of patients and relatives of those who tested positive for the virus. Some deficiencies are projected in the public health system. … This Court is of the opinion that the time has come when the court needs to make inquiries of the government regarding the issues that revolve around the management of the spread of the coronavirus in the state and, more particularly, to provide medical attention to those who tested positive, ”says the court order.
The HC requested the state government to submit an affidavit indicating the total number of active Covid-19 cases, the number of Covid care centers with their medical and paramedical staff, doctors, and necessary infrastructure. HC has also sought the government’s response on the alleged lack of communication between doctors and Covid patients and their families. He has also asked if any private hospitals have been allowed to admit Covid-19 patients. The government should also mention the allocation of funds to upgrade the government’s Covid care centers in its affidavit.
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The government report said there are a total of 2,865 beds available for Covid-19 patients across the state, of which the GBP has 240 beds. There are a total of 19 ventilators available in GBP hospital alone, she adds.
The court noted that the current number of patients in the hospital exceeds the available beds.
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The chief minister, Biplab Kumar Deb, is visiting different district hospitals to urge them to treat Covid-19 patients locally instead of referring them to Agartala.
The state has also formed special corona teams comprising ten medical officers and is about to begin plasma therapy for Covid patients.
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