Shripad’s health deteriorates, but stable

Minister’s oxygen saturation levels drop; AIIMS team flies in; Suggests he be treated in Goa

Team Herald

PANJIM: Union AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik’s health deteriorated on Monday after his oxygen saturation level dropped. 

Naik, who has tested positive for COVID-19, has been undergoing treatment for the virus at Manipal Hospital for the last 10 days. A team of AIIMS doctors air-dashed to Goa late Monday to review Naik’s health, barely five days after they had returned to Delhi stating his condition had improved significantly after he was administered plasma therapy. The doctors landed at Dabolim airport late Monday night and were soon taken to the hospital.

AIIMS and Army RR Hospital doctors have advised to continue providing non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to Naik as they reviewed his health condition at Manipal Hospital late Monday night. 

A team of doctors from two hospitals have also opined that there is no need to shift Naik to Delhi, at least until their second review scheduled on Tuesday morning. 

“His condition is stable. We had him on NIV after his oxygen saturation dropped. The oxygen was maintained thereafter. The doctor’s team has asked to continue with this management. At least for now, there is no need to shift him,” Goa Medical College Dean S Bandekar told media persons outside Manipal Hospital after the team of doctors also comprising of GMC and Manipal checked on Naik’s health. 

It is learnt that the doctors will conduct a second review of the Union Minister’s health on Tuesday morning. 

Earlier, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant who was also present told media persons that Naik’s first COVID-19 test was negative while a second test will be conducted the next day. He also said that Naik has lung infection. 

CM Sawant, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane will also be present at the hospital on Tuesday morning. 

“I feel this is all a combined effort to what best we can offer,” the Dean added. 

On Monday morning, as news about Naik’s worsening health emerged, Sawant had provided an update on the Union minister’s health and said that the team from AIIMS will decide if it would be best to shift Naik to Delhi for further medical treatment.

“Union Minister for AYUSH Shripad Naik is admitted to Manipal Hospital for the last 10 days. From today morning his oxygen saturation has dropped. A team of doctors from AIIMS, Delhi will come here and decide on whether to shift him to Delhi for further treatment. I have also reviewed his health with Health Minister Vishwajit Rane. We are doing our best to give him the best treatment,” Sawant had said. 

The CM conceded that Naik’s health was improving and they have been giving him treatment on par with treatment at AIIMS hospital in Delhi.

The 67-year-old had, on August 12 tweeted that he had tested positive for COVID-19 and advised all those who had come in contact with him in the last few days to get tested and take required precautions.

He was administered plasma therapy eight days ago and previous Friday, the government had, for the first time, admitted the critical nature of his case.