‘Chandrapur’s 95% Covid deaths due to lack of medics, infra in GMC’

Chandrapur: Claiming that nearly 95% of Covid deaths in the district have taken place in Government Medical College and Hospital, former MP Naresh Puglia blamed his party rival and guardian minister Vijay Wadettiwar and district administration for neglecting appointment of medics in the Dedicated Covid Hospital.
Puglia, who has already moved a public interest litigation (PIL) in the high court demanding better facilities for Covid treatment in government hospitals in Chandrapur, has sent a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, health minister Rajesh Tope and medical education minister Amit Deshmukh. He has claimed that GMCH here has only 160 oxygen beds. While there is a need of 16 physicians in government facilities, only 4 are available for Covid services, said Puglia.
He also pointed out severe crunch of medical staffers and alleged that guardian minister and administration is overlooking appointments to push treatment in private hospitals and upcoming 700-bed private jumbo Covid hospital.
Puglia cited that Wadettiwar had on Independence Day announced to set up additional 300 oxygen bed facility at GMCH, 400-bed Covid facility at Army School, and to procure 40 ambulances. Wadettiwar had claimed to have made a provision of Rs53 crore for the same, but there is no sign of these facilities even after two months, the former MP claimed.
Puglia alleged that detection of new Covid cases has gone down as only those coming forward voluntarily are being tested and contact tracing and testing is being neglected.
He also informed that out of total of 187 Covid deaths, 177 have died at GMCH, while 10 have succumbed in private hospitals. Pointing out at the high cost of treatment in private hospitals, Puglia demanded that administration should use Rs700 crore mining royalty fund in the district for treatment of Covid patients in private hospitals.