Questions over credibility of medical department in tackling COVID-19 in Dimapur

Chief Minister Neiphiu during his visit to the Dimapur district Hospital which has been converted into Dimapur COVID 19 Hospital. (DIPR File Photo/ For representational purpose.)

Chief Minister Neiphiu during his visit to the Dimapur district Hospital which has been converted into Dimapur COVID 19 Hospital. (DIPR File Photo/ For representational purpose.)

Dimapur, August 2 (MExN): The Ao Senso Telongjem Dimapur (ASTD) on Sunday expressed its dissatisfaction over the manner in which the medical fraternity and concerned authority, especially the COVID-19 Hospital Dimapur has been handling COVID-19 patients and COVID-19 test for other patients at the COVID-19 Hospital.

The ASTD observed that in the recent past that only after a person’s death, COVID-19 is either being tested or confirmed positive.

It further added that “The patient was at first either declined to get admitted in the hospital or sent back / referred to another hospital on the excuse of COVID-19 test report.”

The ASTD said that such inaction on the part of the medical fraternity has caused a fear psychosis in the mind of the general public and raised questions as to whether the lives of those patients could have been saved if these tests were done on time and admitted in the hospital accordingly.

It also alleged that in the case of a person’s death due to COVID-19 or having tested COVID-19 positive after death, the concerned authority has acted in contrary to the COVID-19 Dead Body Disposal protocols.

This poses serious questions about the credibility and responsibilities of concerned authority of medical officers in  COVID-19 Hospital, Dimapur and by extension, the state health authority, the ASTD stated and further urged the authorities “to come up-front and respond to reported cases of death that are turning out  COVID-19 positive before it is too late.”

Demand for BSL-3 Lab at Dimapur District Hospital
The ASTD further extended support to the queries put forth by the DUCCF, GBs union and DNSU on the functioning of BSL-2 lab in Dimapur.

Stating that the lone COVID-19 testing laboratory in Dimapur district at CIHSR has been inoperative due the lack of test kits and reagents, it urged the authority concerned to keep the testing laboratory functional and intact on war footing.

Moreover, The ASTD urged the State Government to immediately install a BSL-3 lab at District Hospital, Dimapur as has been earlier emphasized and demanded jointly by NCD and NWHD.

Testing facility for private hospitals
Welcoming the ‘view and blueprint’ of Deputy commissioner, Dimapur to take steps for setting up of TrueNat machine in private hospitals in Dimapur district, the ASTD appealed to the State Government  to instruct and encourage private hospitals in the state to “set up TrueNat machines with proper consultation and approval from AIMC for speedy detection and containment of COVID-19 pandemic.”

NPF Dimapur division demands enquiry
The NPF Dimapur Division on Sunday expressed concerns over a number of reports alleging failures and shortcomings in the functioning of COVID Hospital in Dimapur. 

The NPF Dimapur Division said that it has learnt that a number of patients going to COVID Hospital were either sent back from the hospital without samples being taken for COVID-19 test or denied admission for treatment in the hospital despite being in critical condition. 

Such incidents highlighted in various media platform is dismaying as it degrade the morale of the common people beside questioning the credibility and responsibilities of Medical Officers on COVID Duty at the COVID Hospital, Dimapur and also of the state government, it stated.

“COVID Hospital Dimapur is for people of Dimapur District and therefore any patient with COVID-19 related sickness going to the hospital for treatment or tests must not be deprived of the facilities and must be treated equally,” it maintained.

The NPF Dimapur Division appealed to the government and concerned health authority to initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and also to ensure that all concerned are given proper treatment and tests as such reports have become a matter of serious issue.