‘Critical situation; Kovid control should be returned to the health department ‘| SS Lal | Covid 19

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A health expert has accused the state health department of being run by some bureaucrats. S.S. Lal. SS Lal’s criticism comes in a Facebook post that begins with ‘Kovid control should be returned to the health department’. He also alleged that the same bureaucratic leadership that had taken the initiative to manipulate the medical examination and Kovid deaths in waves one and two was still controlling things in the state.

Full version of SSLal’s post:

Kovid control should be returned to the health department

‘The growth rate of new cases has increased by 204 per cent compared to the previous week. The number of patients currently being diagnosed and treated in hospitals, field hospitals, ICUs, ventilators and oxygen beds has increased by 178%, 50%, 103%, 29%, 10% and 41% respectively this week compared to the previous week.

The above is the information in the press release issued by the office of the Minister of Health yesterday. Despite such a serious situation, in the last three weeks, only the press releases of the Health Minister have been issued without any preparation.

The health department is run by others, with the health minister staring. Things in the state are still being controlled by the same bureaucratic leadership that took the initiative to manipulate the medical examination and Kovid deaths in waves one and two. They and a group known as the Expert Committee also decided in the second wave that the people of the state were in danger.

It was generally hoped that the Kovid control programs would be implemented under the leadership of the Director of Health and the District Medical Officers, taking into account the lessons learned from the failure of the second wave of government. But the old team is still making decisions. The health minister is now only doing the job of telling reporters about these decisions. The Minister of Health is constantly receiving wrong advice. It is understood that political pressure has left the health minister helpless.

District Medical Officers in the state had hinted at a third wave at a review meeting in the second half of December last year, according to district medical officers. But some on the expert committee and the secretary of the health department ignored it. They said it would come and go like the flu and there was no need to be afraid. But it is understood that the district medical officers were informed at last week’s meeting that preparations were needed immediately after things went awry.

For the past two weeks, a panel of experts has told the minister that Delta is expanding and that Omicron is not a big deal. Now it is said that there is an Omicron expansion. These declarations are without scientific study or significant investigation.

This time too, the government has come down to face the third wave without any preparation or policy. It is now being said that home care is the new way. But no one knows what way the government has come up with to monitor it. Omicron is spreading so fast that the whole house is getting bedridden. The government has not set up mobile treatment facilities to deliver medicine and other emergency services to such homes. In addition, medicines are scarce even in large government hospitals. Medical colleges do not have enough doctors and nurses. Government treatment systems are likely to be disrupted in the coming days. The government has not made any preparations in view of this.

Since the 15th, the Health Minister has said that a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister will be held on the 20th. It is a betrayal of the people to wait for the convenience of the Chief Minister who is undergoing treatment in the United States at a time when today’s ever-changing medical situation is turning into a public health emergency. Only wet hospitals can help the common people of the country. Delaying a decision when they are sure they will not receive treatment in the United States is challenging people.

The doctors and nurses in the primary health care centers and other government hospitals in the country are more skilled than the panel of experts. They were the ones who forgot their own dangers and treated tens of thousands of patients. But the secretary of the health department and the team are handling things with the exception of their organizations.

In Kerala, as in any other state, public health issues such as communicable diseases have been dealt with by the Department of Health under the direction of the Director of the Department. With a strength of about 40,000, the department has always been precise and quiet.

When Kovid came, they were ousted by the political leadership, the health secretary and the ‘expert’ committee they had kidnapped. The health department has only one thing to say to the minister. The responsibility should be taken back from the ‘expert’ team that repeats the stupidities on a daily basis and handed over to the health department.

English Summary : SS Lal facebook post against health department functioning amid covid surge