Student organisations from the hills and valleys have appealed to the state government to formulate a concrete policy so that hospitals can provide equal service and treatment to all patients apart from COVID-19 patients.
The student organisations also claimed that there are reports of unwanted incidents happening in different parts of the state after private and government hospitals stopped taking patients besides COVID-19 patients.
The All Manipur Students Union (AMSU), All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), Kuki Students Organisation (KSO), Democratic Students Association Manipur (DESAM), Manipur Students Federation (MSF), Kangleipak Students Association(KSA), Students Union of Kangleipak (SUK) and Apunba Imagi Maheirol Singpanglup (AIMS) expressed their concerns on a joint release issued on Wednesday.
Hospitals no longer accept even emergency patients such as accidents, delivery cases, cardiac arrest and others until the patients were tested for COVID-19, it stated. The student bodies also alleged that the hospitals did not accept patients coming from containment areas.
Due to the lockdown, patients from far flung areas of hill districts are also facing inconveniences and difficulties in reaching the state capital for their treatments. As such, there are reported cases of death in the state wherein a woman lost her life before reaching the hospital, it stated.
The release further appealed the state government to allocate a proper place to dispose of the bodies of people who succumb to COVID-19 and also appealed to the public to cooperate with the government when such a step is initiated.
Further it stated that the society should not discriminate or stigmatise any person suffering from COVID-19 and the frontline workers should also be encouraged in their works. The protective kits worn by the healthcare workers should also be disposed of at a proper place, stated the release.