Declare medical emergency in Karnataka: Shobha Karandlaje

UDUPI: Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje has written to chief minister B S Yediyurappa to declare a medical emergency in the state, in the wake of a spike in Covid-19 cases.
“The number of Covid-19 cases is increasing, and the situation may be out of control in the next 15 days. While people from other states enter Karnataka, those settled in Bengaluru are migrating to other districts. This would lead to the infection spreading. The government should declare a medical emergency and take necessary steps to acquire 50% of the beds in all the private hospitals, through a special task force,” the BJP MP stated in a letter.
Quoting people in her constituency, the MP said many have been complaining about the failure of the helpline system. “People have been complaining they are not able to contact the helpline, and also have to wait for hours to get help. More 24x7 helplines should be opened, and staff should be appointed in three shifts,” she demanded.
In addition to seeking to increase the number of ventilators, the MP suggested the government should procure machines through industries in the state.
“A ventilator manufacturer in Mysuru has manufactured 30,000 machines for the central government, in the past one year. The state government had placed an order to supply 1,000 ventilators last year, but only 130 were procured so far. The government should consider the seriousness of the situation, and increase the procurement of ventilators and oxygen,’’ she stated, urging the government to create a dashboard to inform people of the available stock of Remdesivir and oxygen in the state.
“To avoid hearses waiting in queues in front of crematoriums, the government should introduce a token system, and release the bodies of Covid-19 victims through proper scheduling. The government should bear the expenses of transportation of Covid-19 victims’ bodies,” she urged.
“People have been blaming that only the rich and influential get treatment in multi-speciality hospitals. Necessary steps should be taken to ensure treatment in such hospitals, based on the condition of patients,” she demanded.