Stating that the government was losing direction when it came to Covid response, Aam Aadmi Party said that forcing private health care centres to part with 20% beds would cause more harm than serve the cause of public health. Aap convenor Elvis Gomes in a video address called upon the governor to ensure that such a step is not allowed to be taken. He said that the government had not done any feasibility studies before taking such a decision as most of the private hospitals and nursing homes in the state were small with those having ICUs being even less, and most have bed capacities in single digits. Gomes also said that the health care of thousands would get compromised if Covid cases were allowed in private hospitals that were not suitable in design to handle such cases.
Gomes further said that any reference to AAP government in Delhi for having taken a similar decision to reserve 20% beds will be a huge mistake as in Delhi, it was applicable only to those hospitals having more than 50 beds and to which the government had given land at a concessional rate. Hence, in Delhi it is a planned policy decision which does not hold true for Goa.
“This is yet another arbitrary decision that has been taken without wider consultations. The government should have anticipated the present situation and made arrangements. Forcing private hospitals is not the solution. It will jeopardise the lives of other patients who are taking treatment in such hospitals. The ICU beds are in single digits with no physical separation possible for Covid care” said Gomes calling upon the government to get the two floors at south district hospital ready for additional bed capacity.
