Jittery Punjab shifts focus to bringing down fatality rate

CHANDIGARH: Spike in mortality rate due to Covid-19 this month has got the Punjab government worried, forcing it to shift its focus to reducing the number of deaths.
The number of positive cases has recorded manifold increase since June 1 and so has the death toll. During the 16-day period from June 1 to June 16, a total of 1,108 new cases were reported - 32.86% of the total cases - and 28 people lost their lives, accounting for 38.88% of the total deaths. Of 28 deaths, 17 (60.71%) were reported in the last seven days, with Amritsar topping the list with 10 deaths.

Health experts are of the view that the positive cases will inevitably rise and there is a need to check the fatality rate. The efforts of the government were earlier more concentrated on containing the spread .
Punjab begins plasma therapy
The recent high fatality rate has made the government focus equally on saving lives. To curb deaths, the state government is focusing on better clinical management of critically-ill patients and timely detection of infected people. To reduce the risk of death from Covid-19, the state health department has from the last few days started prescribing dexamethasone, a low-cost and easily available steroid on the recommendation of international health experts roped in by the Punjab government. The UK government also approved the use of this medicine on Tuesday on the basis of positive results of clinical trials.
Punjab has also started giving convalescent plasma therapy to critically ill patients and first such therapy was conducted at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot on June 12. The condition of the patient is said to be stable. The state government is also making efforts for roping in the private health facilities, which cater to about 70% of the state’s population. All the private hospitals have been allowed to collect and test samples, besides giving Covid-19 treatment and the government is in process of empanelling private hospitals.
Dr K K Talwar, the Punjab government’s adviser on health issues, said, “We need to work on patient care management and early detection of infection to save lives.” He asserted that private health facilities will have to assist the government in fighting the virus as the next four weeks are very crucial. The state government and the private health facilities are locked in confrontation over cap on pricing and implementation of clinical establishment ordinance. The health experts called for early resolution of the issue.
Meanwhile, of 72 people, who died due to coronavirus , 66 were suffering from non-communicable diseases — hypertension, diabetes and respiratory disorder were the most common ailments. Two case were HIV infected.