Amaravati: TDP National President and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday expressed concern over the unchecked rise in Covid-19 infections in Andhra Pradesh and urged the state’s Chief Secretary to place immediate focus on livelihoods and health of the vulnerable people.

Mr Naidu said that an alarming rise in infections should be a warning sign that requires greater efforts and decisive actions with empathy towards all sections of people. There was a need to instil confidence in the people by providing effective strategies and solutions in this moment of crisis.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary here, the TDP chief deplored that though a small state in population, AP stood second in India in the number of COVID cases now. Sadly, AP has even surpassed countries like Bangladesh, Spain, UK and Argentina in the rate of increase in cases. With 7,729 COVID cases per 1 million population, Andhra Pradesh stands top in the country in the highest number of cases per million population.

Mr Naidu pointed out that all the 13 districts in the state have surpassed 15,000 cases and Andhra Pradesh stands 5th in the country in deaths.

“In this backdrop, it is highly essential to secure the health of the frontline warriors like doctors, nurses and other paramedical staff, police, panchayat raj, revenue and municipal employees among others. It is equally essential to provide a safety net to the family members of the COVID frontline warriors by providing them with proper health facilities and financial security.”

Mr Chandrababu Naidu said that the government called for higher RT-PCR tests but in fact, it was falling short of doing an ample number of these tests.

On 27 August 2020, over 22,056 antigen tests were conducted. It is badly required to phase out antigen tests and conduct 100% RT-PCR tests.

The accuracy of antigen tests has been questioned globally. It is in that direction that the government must set up more labs with adequate infrastructure. The repeated stress on home isolation was creating confusion and in conflict with the guidelines.

There should be standard operating procedures (SOP) and guidelines to monitor every patient in the home quarantine or isolation. An oximeter, a kit with essential medicines needs to be delivered to every positive patient.

Expressing concern over high Covid treatment costs ranging from Rs. 4 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs, Mr Naidu said that people in general and the poor and middle class, in particular, were under huge stress.

The government should take steps to reduce the high costs. Due to the lack of infrastructure for treating Covid patients in AP, many of them are going to the neighbouring states for treatment.

The Government has set price caps between the range of Rs. 3,250 per day and Rs. 10,380 per day for various categories of patients. However, some hospitals continue to ignore GO Ms 77 and are blatantly charging much more. Some hospitals are charging as much as Rs 70,000 per day as per media reports.

In some instances, hospitals are forcing Covid patients to deposit between Rs. 50,000 to Rs.1,00,000 before admitting them.

Mr Naidu said that while Covid threatened the health of the people, the lockdowns deprived them of their livelihoods and jobs. The patients have to spend on treatment, while simultaneously they have lost their income.

The people are losing whatever small savings they have got. Covid has become double jeopardy. People are also forced to borrow money for interest rates, thus falling under the net of loan sharks.

The promise of free treatment by the government has actually betrayed people as they were eventually hit hard financially. It hit people both in organised and unorganised sectors. Livelihood assistance of Rs.10,000 per family per month must be given on a retrospective basis.

All families with a valid BPL ration card must be given an allowance for the months of April to November 2020. Further, the assistance of Rs. 2,000 promised to every recovered patient in Andhra Pradesh is not being given.

The TDP chief demanded minimum financial assistance of Rs. 50 lakhs immediately to the family members of the frontline warriors who sacrificed their lives for the sake of larger good.

In rural Andhra Pradesh, ASHA workers are the backbone of our healthcare system. There are numerous reports of mistreatment being meted out by their superiors.

Therefore, the government must issue adequate orders to district collectors and set up an anonymous reporting system to ensure our frontline ASHA workers are not ignored or victimised.

At the same time, our junior doctors have voiced their concerns about pending stipends since January 2020. The government should not let them down as they are forming the support mechanism for the hospitals in such dire circumstances.

Mr Naidu raised the issue of sub-standard PPE kits and lack of N95 masks. This is a serious concern that requires intervention from the highest level.

A case of poor PPE kits or the lack of it is a threat to life for our frontline warriors. Reducing panic and providing support to Covid patients must remain in the focus area.

The government should not only prescribe what to do but also should explain as to how to do. Another concern was the lack of treatment facilities for COVID across the state. As a result, the poor and other vulnerable sections are unable to access the treatment. Universal COVID healthcare must be provided.