The Communist Party of India (CPI), Manipur state council, has urged the government to set up a 500-bedded COVID-19 dedicated hospital at the earliest in view of the present widespread COVID-19 situation in the state.
Owing to the poor and inadequate healthcare system and infrastructural problem, the state government, even with the generous assistance of the Central government, is not able to ensure treatment of both the COVID and non-COVID patients properly, said CPI national executive member M Nara while speaking to the media in Imphal on Friday.
Asserting that the pandemic is on the rise as the state witnessed surging COVID-19 positive cases and increase in death toll, Nara said to combat the pandemic, proper equipment and a separate COVID-19 hospital is the most crucial need of the hour.
As there is no separate hospital for COVID and non-COVID patients, there are many cases of cross-infection among the doctors, nurses, medical staff and patients and non-COVID patients feel insecure to visit the hospital, he lamented.
There is a high risk of surging of COVID-19 positive cases in the state after the by-election and Ningol Chakouba, as many do not follow the SOP, heNara asserted. He said the CPI did not participate in the by-election as it thinks combating the COVID pandemic is more important than election.
He also said that since the central nodal officer of COVID-19 Control Committee stated that there is no dearth of fund in the Centre for combating COVID pandemic, constructing a 500-bedded hospital for COVID-19 within 15 days is not a difficult task if the government works with full transparency.
Manipur unit CPI secretary L Sotinkumar said that as the budget allocation for Health is very small in a country like India, there is probability that India will top in the highest COVID-19 positive cases in the world shortly.
It is very unfortunate that the state is still following the central policy when the COVID-19 positive cases are surging and the death toll is increasing daily, he said.
Due to lack of proper equipment and treatment centre for COVID-19, the State has witnessed several death cases and many COVID warriors are tested positive, he lamented.
Chief Minister N Biren made false promises of constructing a 500-bedded COVID hospital seven months ago, Sotinkumar said.
On Wednesday, CPI, Manipur state council submitted a five-point proposal to the central nodal officer of COVID-19 Control Committee VK Devgan which includes asking the central government to establish a COVID-19 dedicated hospital having at least 500 beds in proper place.
It also asked to provide adequate kits, ventilators and other equipment through ICMR or central government agencies and to help and encourage the fund raising activities through the Manipuri Diaspora residing abroad.
The memorandum further mentioned that more central funding should be provided and special attention be given and monitoring should be done by the central government in a prompt and transparent manner. It also asked the central government to disclose how much fund has been given to the Manipur government for containing the COVID pandemic.
