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New Delhi, March 10 (PTI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan spoke to a few coronavirus patients admitted at Medanta and Safdarjung hospitals through video calls on Tuesday and said all the people infected by the disease were stable and showing signs of recovery.
Vardhan also called up Health Ministers of Delhi, Haryana, Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh as well as Lt Governors of Ladakh, and Jammu & Kashmir to ascertain the status of the COVID-19 affected patients kept in isolation centres in hospitals, the health ministry said.
A total of 50 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country till now, the ministry said, adding a few more cases were being re-tested for confirmation. Reports from states put the figure at 59.
While monitoring the COVID-19 situation from his office in the Health Ministry, Vardhan spoke to a few patients through video calls to enquire about their health and their satisfaction with the treatment being given at the isolation wards.
"While speaking to the patients, he conveyed that though he wanted to visit them personally, he was dissuaded by the hospital authorities from the visit as they felt that such a visit may hinder regular treatment arrangements for the patients," the statement said.
The patients, the ministry said, expressed their satisfaction with the treatment being given to them.
They also appreciated the role of the government for the timely assistance offered to them and about regular review of their status thrice a day.
Vardhan also extended Holi greetings to them on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and himself.
Vardhan also spoke to the health ministers and the Lieutenant Governors to get feedback about the condition of the patients and problems being faced, if any, by the states and Union territories in availability of required supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE), masks, etc. and capacity building of health workers, the statement stated.
The Health Ministers and LGs while giving details of the treatment status stated that the patients are recovering well and are stable.
The patients have not at all faced problems during their treatment in hospitals or their stay in quarantine centres.
Vardhan lauded the efforts being made by the states and stated that with consistent and coordinated efforts of Central Government and States/ UTs, valuable lives of not only Indians but also foreign nationals visiting India, have been taken care off.
He also urged them to spread awareness about COVID-19 amongst the general public and persuade them to avoid crowded gatherings as well as follow basic principles of personal hygiene and prevention measures.
A doctor in Kerala on Tuesday alleged that she was sacked by the management of the private clinic she was working with for informing authorities about an NRI patient who reportedly declined to undergo the mandatory check for novel coronavirus.
Dr. Shinu Syamalan said the patient had come to the clinic recently with suspected symptoms of the virus.
"When he was asked whether he had visited any foreign countries, he said he was coming from Qatar. But he had not reported to the Health department about his foreign trip," she said.
When he was directed to inform about his foreign travel to the state Health department, which has been monitoring people coming from abroad for the virus, he refused and said he was going back to Qatar, she told reporters.
Concerned over the health of the person who had high fever, Syamalan informed health and police authorities.
"Officials who let the patient go abroad do not have any problem, but I have become jobless," she posted on social media.
She alleged she was sacked by the management of the clinic for reporting the matter to police and informing the public about the incident through social media and through television.
"The argument of the management is that no one would turn up for treatment in the clinic if they come to know that it was visited by patients with suspected symptoms of coronavirus," she said.
There was no immediate reaction from the management of the private health clinic.
Official sources said the District Medical Officer (DMO) at Thrissur has complained to the collector against Shinu Syamalan accusing her of defaming health officials.
Sources said the DMO informed the collector that health officials had tried to prevent the patient from travelling abroad immediately after getting information from Syamalan.