Get tested to avoid loss of life: Dr Nandakishore
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 23 2021: While hospitals are already facing difficulty in treating Covid patients who hid their symptoms and only come forward for treatment after their conditions have worsened, the hospitals are increasingly accused of being negligent even when it is well known that there is a severe shortage of beds.

In a conversation with The People's Chronicle, a hospital official said that the main reason behind the high number of Covid deaths is due to the fact the patients are brought to the hospital only on deterioration of their conditions.

Ninety per cent of the patients, who were brought to the hospital, had dangerously low oxygen levels and as such, it becomes difficult to save their lives.

The official continued that if there is any suspicion, one should get tested immediately, and if he/she tests positive, they could easily recover by following the doctor's advice and taking the required medicines and necessary precautions, without ever needing to go to the hospital.

"However, many patients tend to hide any suspicious symptoms and do not get tested in time.

They start acting like doctors and buy over-the-counter medicines from pharmacies.

As such, their condition worsens and brought to the hospital, where there is practically no space available to treat them.

Thus, they then accused the hospitals of being apathetic and negligent", the official remarked.

Stating that although the hospitals understand why the patients are upset, the official said that it is up to the patients to take charge of saving their respective lives amid the dire situation in the state by getting tested as soon as possible and also following the necessary precautions.

This is the only easy way out of this pandemic, the official added.

Speaking to this daily in this regard, Imphal West Chief Medical Officer Dr Nandakishore suggested that anyone in close contact with a Covid positive patient, whether it is a family member or a stranger should get tested immediately.

This will not only help prevent the spread of the pandemic but also reduce the pressure on hospitals along with the death rate, he added.

"The prevailing situation in the state is also, in a way, caused by people hiding their details during contact tracing or concealing the symptoms, if any, and proceeding to mingle with others, thereby resulting in further spread of the virus.

However, what everyone must understand is that the concealment is a huge risk to their own life", he pointed out.

Dr Nandakishore then said that one should refrain from putting themselves in risk, especially when the hospitals are being overwhelmed.

If one tests positive early on, he/she could easily recover by taking the advice of the doctors and taking all necessary medications, while also undergoing home isolation.

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