WITH SHORTAGE OF ICU BEDS COVID DRUGS HOW CAN ADMN DEAL WITH INCREASING CASES IN DISTRICT? Dont panic follow all guidelines Safety of every citizen is the governments priority. Amid this surge some positive news include that certain reports claim that there are signs of plateau in Punjab vaccination of elderly is on at good pace production of vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — in India is also increased and a batch of Russian vaccine — Sputnik V — has also reached the nation to keep the vaccination drive on in full swing. The government is also making necessary arrangements to increase bed capacity in hospitals so that people are not denied medical facilities due to shortage of beds at hospitals. Though the number of beds is being increased hospitals are also suggesting people to stay at home and take necessary precautions if the rate of infection in them is mild. Not every Covid patient requires medical facility and most of them can be cured at home itself and should not panic. If the situation turns out to be serious the government could implement medical emergency and turn hostels of colleges and universities into temporary recovery centres for the Covid-19 patients. As the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is leaving no stone unturned to firmly deal with the pandemic it is also the duty and responsibility of every citizen to follow the guidelines and make efforts in breaking the chain and putting an end to the virus. Rajat Kumar Mohindru Track purchase of oxygen drugs Amidst depressing scenario of increasing Covid cases and constant failure of the government to ensure supply of oxygen to critical patients the role of the local administration primarily confined to implementation aspect of Covid-19/ health policy guidelines becomes more challenging. To deal with the situation the potential of local supplies relating to medical equipment medicines and oxygen can be explored to augment the existing supply line to Covid health centers. Strict action should be taken against all those indulging in hoarding black-marketing and profiteering relating to medical oxygen medicines and drugs. Meticulous supervision and monitoring of local health services relating to Covid patients in both public and private sector. It should be strictly ensured that charges fixed for Covid tests and other medical services including ambulance are levied as per the schedule and people should not be forced to pay exorbitant prices for such services in the times of distress. An effective coordination should be maintained with local NGOs and community leaders for streamlining voluntary services and supplies in the battle against the virus. Public morale and trust in the administration has to be kept alive through regular awareness campaigns and interaction with the people. Jagdish Chander From Vishwa Guru to Vishwa Beggar The Covid situation in the nation is undoubtedly getting out of control and turning from bad to worse. The country which was known as Vishwa Guru has become Vishwa beggar. The regulatory decisions of the government are not uniform but rather erratic. People are confused about the timings and relaxations in the lockdown. A huge rush of people is witnessed at markets whenever there is an announcement made regarding restrictions as people resort to panic buying fearing curfew like situation. Adding to the woes when there is an alarming rise in number of deaths due to the virus critical patients are being denied admission to hospitals as there is shortage of beds and oxygen supplies at hospitals. Attendants of patients also are facing a lot of inconvenience in getting the doctor-prescribed drugs such as Remdesivir which are running out of stock. An Amritsar-based company which has been manufacturing Remedesiver for export had requested the government to allow it to stop the export and use it locally but was denied by the Central Government. Australian cricketer Garylinekar had rightly said that more people were dying than the runs being scored in the IPL matches. Such is the sorry state of affairs in India. The capacity of beds at various hospitals should be ramped up and supply of oxygen should also be streamlined. To deal with this situation we should learn from China how it fabricated hospitals in no time when the cases were rising at alarming rate there. The Centre claims that there is no shortage of oxygen and vaccines but the ground situation is different. Many states including Punjab had to postpone the vaccination drive for all above 18 due to shortage of doses. Despite all measures the cases are rising at record level and thus the last option left with the government is imposition of complete lockdown to break the chain and contain the raging virus. Another problem arising amid the present situation is black-marketing of drugs such as Remdesivir which should be dealt with strictly by the administration to keep the supply chain smooth. Dr JS Wadhwa Mismanagement to be blamed for shortage Amidst the unprecedented Covid surge health services are stretched to optimum level. Consequently a sort of confusion and lack of cohesive action have resulted in lawlessness and turmoil at some places. This wave of the pandemic is quite more virulent and voices are being raised to fix accountability for negligence in Covid-management. Even the higher courts are venting their ire against the Union Government for their laxity and not paying attention to the worsening pandemic during the recent election season. The role of autonomous Election Commission of India and AIIMS Director has also been unde the scanner for not proactively warning the government of the possible Covid-blast by allowing large political rallies and openly flouting norms. Current alarming number of new cases and scarcity of oxygen and ICU beds for the patients signals the collapse of our system. Apparently it is an uphill task to save lives and execute massive vaccination campaign to inoculate all above the age of 18 years. Though efforts are being made to rope in all resources to negate the ferocity of virus a lot more needs to be done to check the spread. Another serious issue that needs to be resolved is the black-marketing and hoarding of drugs that are in high demand and also oxygen cylinders. Lockdown or curfew have been reinforced to break the chain in some districts by the local authorities but the situation is no better. Under the given circumstances the administration has to strategise two-pronged action. People too should act responsibly and follow the norms religiously to curb the virus. Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath Scale up production within the nation It is devastating to see that the country which won international applause for successfully tackling the Covid outbreak last year is now on its knees amid the second wave. While other nations ramped up their efforts to build a robust healthcare infrastructure to tackle any further eventuality we wallowed in self-esteem misplaced nationalism aggressive vaccine diplomacy complacency and skewed priorities. After the first wave receded we lowered our guard and massive public events from election rallies to festivals and other religious functions were held all by not adhering to safety norms. This led to a more virulent second wave. Despite the Centres claims there is an acute shortage of vaccines and other medicines oxygen cylinders ventilators and hospital beds throughout the nation courtesy abject apathy callousness and criminal negligence of the healthcare system. Hundreds of people are dying everyday and critical patients are turned away from hospitals and vaccination centres due to this alleged crunch of medical facilities. The whole health system is overwhelmed to the extent of near collapse and the state administration is unable to stall the transmission of the virus. When various countries are sending liberal medical aid to India the Central Government should scale up vaccine medicine and oxygen production and ensure their availability to all hospitals and health centres with uniformity of prices post the Supreme Court intervention. The Punjab dispensation has put a blanket ban on supply of oxygen to industries and invited retired medical faculty to help in the Covid nightmare. Hoarding and black marketing of essential vaccines and drugs fleecing by private players and laxity in preventive measures should be strictly checked. Otherwise the worsening situation will inevitably attract a complete lockdown whatever its impact on livelihoods and economy. Hopefully the prevailing humanitarian crisis will pass. Only a strong public healthcare system massive vaccination programme and Covid-appropriate behaviour will eventually prepare us for future adversity. DS Kang Act strictly against hoarders The second wave of Covid has shaken the nation. Hospitals have been facing an acute shortage of oxygen ICU beds and ventilators ever since the number of critical patients started rising. A number of patients have been left stranded outside hospitals for hours gasping for air and sometimes they also collapse due to non-availability of medical facilities. Even doctors are feeling helplessness in handling the situation. As hospitals are full to their capacity with no beds and innaddition to vanishing vaccine doses and oxygen supply there is also a shortage of doctors and nurses. The government should turn schools and colleges into make-shift hospitals to increase the number of beds available for critical patients. It is a war like situation and the help of Army paramilitry forces and even Railway should be taken to fight the virus. Adding to the peoples woes some anti-social elements have started hoarding oxygen and drugs like Remdesivir to sell them at exorbitant prices. Such activities need to be checked so that the available facilities could be provided to the needy patients. Shashi Kiran Need to boost mass production of drugs As second wave of the Covid pandemic is sweeping over the state the supply constraint in ICU beds vaccines drugs and oxygen in public as well as private hospitals has raised serious concern. The governments both at the Central and state levels have miserably failed in their responsibility to make adequate arrangements of these medical facilities. Moreover there is insufficient medical staff including doctors nurses and technicians in government hospitals. As a result the district administration everywhere finds it difficult to mitigate the daily increasing caseload of Covid cases. A large number of active patients succumb to the virus for being unattended and those above 45 years are waiting for their first and second doses return disappointed from hospitals and health centres owing the shortage of beds and vaccine doses respectively. This has also hit the new vaccine policy for the 18 to 44 age groups May 1 onwards and most healthcare centres have been closed. Despite placing orders the vaccines are not reaching the state. The Centre and the state governments should devise a more strategic well-orchestrated coordinated and comprehensive policy to boost mass production ensure equitable distribution and regular supply of the required generics at affordable prices. It is gratifying that New Delhi has allowed states and private entities to import these directly. It will not only help repulse the present disastrous viral invasion but also protect us against the challenge of the coming waves as well. Tajpreet S Kang QUESTION Do you think people living in congested places and quarters with limited toilets can protect themselves from contracting the virus. What steps the administration and the Health Department must take to protect them? Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (May 13).

Stay updated with all the Latest Jalandhar headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.