Ensure rights during pandemic: MHRC
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 21 2021:
Acting on complaints amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Manipur Human Rights Commission has directed the State Government, its agencies and all concerned to enforce and ensure people of their human rights, particularly, the right to health and right to food.
Regarding healthcare, the MHRC said the Centre and the State Government must coordinate for providing continuous, rapid and seamless logistics to meet the demand of oxygen, essential medicines and medical devices in all healthcare establishments.
Additionally, a single point of contact may be established for the same, especially for oxygen.
Any Covid patient, who approaches any public health facility should receive the treatment free of cost.
In case, the care appropriate to the severity of the condition is not available, it would be the obligation of the Health Department to organise the patient's transport to another hospital where appropriate care is available.
In case of Covid patient approaching a private hospital where there is no vacant bed for admission, then the hospital must contact the Govt Nodal officer for providing help/support.
Till the time proper arrangement is made, the private hospital may be directed by the Nodal officer to provide available emergency healthcare support to the patient.
Functional and effective help-desk should be set up in all public and private hospitals for preliminary check up of all incoming patients to assess their needs.
If the patient is in need of urgent hospitalization and bed is not available, then the patient should be handled to reach a clinic establishment where needed resources are available.
In no case, the patient and his family members should be left to fend for themselves, said the MHRC.
The commission also stated that the State Government shall ensure that no individual of groups shall be allowed to distribute oxygen cylinder/concentrator to patients without consulting a registered medical practitioner.
This is to ensure that patients are provided quality healthcare service, said the MHRC advising recovered patients who had received oxygen cylinder/concentrator for any individual/group to hand over the medical equipment to the Government.
Further, all Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the Social Welfare Department shall ensure availability of necessary food grains/commodities at the child care institutions.
The Director of Education (S) shall take up necessary actions to ensure food-grain/midday meal reach students.
Distribution of ration under National Food Security Act shall be ensured without any further delay.
All de-addiction centres are advised to immediately halt the lodging of drug users without obtaining free, prior and informed consent from the drug users or their parents.
In case, lodging of them is highly necessary, the same shall be done only after they test negative for COVID-19, said the MHRC.