The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic’s second wave in the country saying that they are astonished to see “extreme lethargy and inappropriate actions” from the Union Health Ministry in combatting the pandemic.
“IMA is astonished to see the extreme lethargy and inappropriate actions from the Ministry of health in combatting the agonising crisis born out of the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic,” read a statement released by the IMA.
The medical body alleged that the collective consciousness, proactive cognisance, and requests made by the IMA and other professional learned colleagues are put into the dust bin, and often without realizing the ground realities the decisions are taken.
IMA claimed that it has been insisting on the need for complete, well planned preannounced national lockdown rather than a few states declaring complete lockdown ranging from 10 days to 15 days, so as to getting breathing time for the health care infrastructure to recoup and replenish both the material and manpower.
“lockdown will break the chain of this devastating spread,” the medical body said.
“However, the central government had refused to head to implement lockdown resulting in the mounting of new patients beyond 4 lakhs every day and the number of moderate to severe cases are increasing to nearly 40 per cent…Sporadic night curfews have not done any good. Life is precious than the economy,” read the statement.
On the vaccination front, the IMA said that despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of phase 3 vaccination rollout from May 1 the Health Ministry failed to chart out a proper road map and arrange vaccine stock which has led to the suspension of vaccination drive at several vaccine centres in the country.
The health professionals’ body also criticised the differential pricing system for vaccine purchase by states and private medical institutions. Citing the instance of smallpox and polio vaccination drives in the past, the IMA said that the country had been able to succeed on account of free vaccine provision for all age groups across the country.
Raising concerns about oxygen shortage in the country, IMA said there is enough production, it is often the distribution is not proper.
“the crisis of oxygen is deepening every day and scores of people are succumbing to its mismatch supply and it is creating panic both among patients and fraternity,” the medical body said.
India on Saturday recorded 4,01,078 new coronavirus cases, taking the tally of infections in the country to 2,18,92,676 since the pandemic broke out. This is the fourth time after May 1, when the case count rose by more than 4 lakh. The toll climbed by 4,187 deaths to 2,38,270.
 on Saturday lashed out at the Narendra Modi government for its handling of the coronavirus pandemic's second wave in the country saying that they are astonished to see "extreme lethargy and inappropriate actions" from the Union Health Ministry in combatting the pandemic.){kind=link}