Advisor Health, Medical Education and Research Dr KK Talwar on Friday said that Punjab is fully prepared to beat the second wave of novel coronavirus if it hits the state in the coming days.Presiding over a meeting with district officials, doctors from Shaheed Babu Labh Singh Civil Hospital and 51 private hospitals which are offering Covid treatment, Advisor Dr KK Talwar said that Punjab has acquired a lot of knowledge from the first wave of the deadly virus during eight-months of this year. He added now if the second wave surfaces, we will be in a better position to deal with the virus as we have now strengthened health infrastructure, manpower, improved ICU care facilities, and availabilities of ventilators, oxygen, and others here.Dr Talwar said that the Punjab Government is committed to saving every precious life from novel coronavirus and this time, special emphasis is being laid to ensure dedicated ICU facilities for level-III patients by sharing best medical practices learnt from the first wave in Punjab among the doctors of government and private hospitals.He asked the doctors of private hospitals to ensure quality treatment to the level-II patients in their premises during the golden period (one-week) so that they do not get converted into level-III and can be cured at an earlier stage.The Advisor also told them to ensure every patient gets treated perfectly, reporting to their institutions and asked to contact him or the administration without hesitation in case they need any kind of support.
He further appealed to the private hospitals to initiate mask distribution drives among the people and educate them about the importance of wearing masks as at present; Mask is the only vaccine to tackle the novel coronavirus.Giving reference to countries like Japan, Hong Kong which witnessed fewer cases as people have adopted facemask culture, Dr. Talwar asked the people to follow the SMS (social distancing, Mask and Sanitization) principle in their routine life to contain Covid in Punjab.He further said the people must undergo an RTPCR test immediately in case they develop influenza-like symptoms so that early treatment can be started and mortality can be brought down.Managing Director Punjab Health Systems Corporation Tanu Kashyap said that the health department is already carrying out the massive recruitment drive of MBBS doctors, specialists, nursing staff, lab technicians, and others which will prove instrumental in dealing with the pandemic in the state.She said that the health infrastructure in the local Civil Hospital is already improved and soon, the work of the oxygen generation plant would start there.On the complaints of some doctors in meeting that unqualified professionals are treating and delaying the treatment to Covid patients which leads to higher mortality, the Deputy Commissioner said that any unqualified professional treating Covid patients will be prosecuted and strict action would be taken.Prominent among present included Additional Deputy Commissioner Vishesh Sarangal, SDMs Rahul Sindhu, Dr. Jai Inder Singh, DMC Dr. Bishav Mohan, PGIMER MD Anaesthesia & Associate Professor Dr Kamal Kajal, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinder Kaur Chawala, Medical Superintendent Dr Mandeep Kaur Mangat, SMO Dr Kashmiri Lal, Dr Paramjeet Singh and others.