Nothing wrong if Health Director is admitted in pvt hospital: HM

Says 50 per cent recover after plasma therapy

Team Herald

PANJIM: Reacting to the controversy over the Health Director and politicians availing treatment at a private hospital for COVID-19, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said it is their personal choice and he has no say in that.

“If an MLA is eligible for medical facilities at a private hospital, he can avail it. Even if the director has been admitted there I feel there is no issue. That is his family’s choice,” he said.

He further said that he has confidence in GMC and as such he had admitted his father in GMC some time back. 

“There is no big deal if the Health Director or an MLA has gone to a private hospital as we have been helping private hospitals with plasma and ventilators on a regular basis,” he said.

He said the government’s motto is to give best facilities to all Goans. “As I speak there are no beds in Manipal as well as ESI COVID-19 hospital. Now the cardiothoracic ward at GMC is being converted to another COVID ward,” he said.

The Health Minister said that 50 per cent of the people administered plasma have recovered from COVID-19.

“We need to concentrate and more people have to come forward. We will ask police and senior residents who have recovered to donate plasma,” Rane said.

Rane told cured patients that they must not only remain survivors and become saviours also.

GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said the daily requirement is of 25 plasma packets but they are getting only four or five per day.

“People must not fear, we are not taking any other nutrients from the blood. The apheresis machine only takes plasma,” he said.

At the press conference GMC also honoured two donors to encourage others to come forward and donate plasma.