During the ongoing lockdown period, the general grouse among people sufffering from ailments other than coronavirus are not being given treatment at hospitals and in some private Nursing Homes. There were some reports by those visiting Hospitals and some Nursing Homes that they faced hardship in finding medical help.
While the tremendous pressure on the Health infrastructure is understandable, the government has to provide treatment to non-Covid-19 patients including those needing chemotherapy, dialysis and pregnant women, despite the enormous pressure due to coronavirus situation.
The work being done by doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and all others associated with them in various hospitals and clinics are applaudable and commendabe
People are also appreciative of the brilliant work being done by the other government agencies on the administrative side including police, armed forces, paramilitary forces, to name a few, who amongst other tasks are helping the health workers. Every sector today, be it the government or the private sector, working in the field of health or administration or law and order, is contributing in its own way, battling the pandemic, which surely includes the citizens, who in their own way are contributing to the fight against Covid-19.
Every single day is posing new challenges. At this stage, therefore, for anyone to undermine the efforts put by the medical staff or the government agencies in providing medical aid and assistance, would not only be wholly unfair and inappropriate but also demotivating for those working dedicatedly and tirelessly, 24×7 on ground.
Interestingly, the Delhi High Court was approached on the similar issue and Court's verdict came with the direction to authorities to provide medical aid and treatment to patients suffering from varied illnesses and diseases, other than Covid-19. It claimed that most of the hospitals are providing treatment to patients suffering from the effects of the deadly virus while there are other persons who are suffering from serious illnesses such as cancer and kidney problems and need chemotherapy or dialysis on an urgent basis.
The plea, filed through advocate Sumedh Rishi, submitted that women who are pregnant also need treatment, both during pregnancy and at the time of delivery, as well as at the postnatal stage.
There can hardly be any doubt that given the magnitude of the calamity and the pandemic, the task undertaken by health workers or the other workers on the frontline, both inside and outside the hospital, of rendering medical aid and treatment to a patient suffering with Covid-19, is a gigantic and herculean task.
