Panaji: The state government has decided to involve AYUSH doctors working in the health department in the post-COVID management and also treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 positive patients from next week onwards.
Addressing media persons at the function to launch home isolation kits for COVID-19 patients who have opted for home isolation on Friday, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said that the government will involve 130 AYUSH doctors in post-COVID management, a system for which will be set up in all the health centres across Goa from October 14.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane, Secretary Health Amit Satija, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar, director of health services Dr Jose D’Sa and director of food and drugs administration Jyoti Sardesai were present on the occasion. Earlier, the Chief Minister and Health Minister jointly addressed the meeting of the expert committee.
Sawant also highlighted that more than 150 deliveries including caesareans have been successfully carried out at the ESI COVID hospital in Margao.
“More than 150 COVID positive mothers have delivered in the COVID hospital successfully. However, there is no single case of a baby getting infected with the virus,” he added.
He claimed that the mortality rate of the state has not changed much due to COVID-19.
“I have checked the mortality data with the planning and statistics department. The mortality rate for the past six months is more or less in line with the deaths that occurred last year during April to September period,” he said, adding that the GMC Dean Dr Bandekar takes audit of the deaths daily.
He further stated that over 95 per cent COVID deaths are due to co-morbidities and 5 per cent are attributed to delay in treatment from the patients’ side.
The Chief Minister said that Goa’s recovery rate of COVID-19 patients is 85.98 per cent which is much higher than other states of the country.
Sawant said that there are 3,500 active patients who have opted for home isolation, who would be provided these kits.
Sawant said that the state has put up robust infrastructure to tackle COVID-19 and there are enough beds in the state-run hospitals to admit COVID-19 patients.
Sawant said that the home isolation kit will help in treatment of the patient from the first day of the diagnosing positive for the infection.
“That will eventually reduce the load on the hospitals and also help the patients to maintain their health,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that the file regarding Deen Dayal Swastha Seva Yojana coverage for COVID patients was processed in March, during initial phase of outbreak of COVID-19 and the corresponding notification was issued on Thursday. Sawant said that he will look into it as regards the fixation of packages under DDSSY for COVID treatment.
Health Minister Rane said that bed capacity of South Goa District Hospital will be further increased by 200 beds.
