18 more succumb to Covid-19

Tribune News Service

Patiala, May 9

Amid the mounting Covid deaths, the Patiala Health Department today issued a warning to private practitioners for causing the undue delay in reaching patients at Covid-appropriate facilities.

The department said many private practitioners had been wasting crucial time by giving a symptomatic treatment to Covid patients until the latter reached critical situation.

The Civil Surgeon, Dr Satinder Singh, said many private practitioners were diagnosing suspected patients clinically sans Covid tests. “Instead of conducting tests, they (private practitioners) are treating patients on their own. This causes delay in patients reaching Covid centres, thereby delaying the appropriate treatment. We have seen many cases wherein the delay proved fatal.”

The department said patients were reporting at a late stage which was one of the major reasons for the rising Covid deaths in the district. Sources said many rural medical practitioners (RMPs) in villages were also treating patients on their own sans testing.

The department added that patients were coming at a stage where their oxygen level had already dropped below the critical level. “People approach government health centres or hospitals only when the situation becomes critical, thereby making it difficult for the doctors,” said a health official.

Meanwhile, Patiala reported 18 Covid deaths, taking the toll to 901 since the pandemic outbreak last year. The district has witnessed a sharp rise in Covid deaths over the past few days.