All private, public hospitals to treat general patients without insisting for prior Covid test: Assam Govt

Jan. 5: During first two waves of COVID-19, many cases have been reported where patients coming up at different hospitals for emergency non- COVID purposes were either deprived from treatment or there was a delay in providing treatment due to insistence on prior COVID report. A few cases have also been filed in Human Rights Commission by some people on account of this issue.

Now as the COVID cases have again started rising in the country as well as in Assam and therefore, it is expected that during the peak in COVID cases, many general emergency cases shall report to hospitals for treatment. If such emergency treatment is not provided to these patients in time by insisting prior COVID report, many patients may lose their lives.

In order to prevent any such unfortunate incident, Principal Secretary, Govt of Assam in the Department of Health and Family Welfare on 4 January issued directives to all Deputy Commissioners, Principals of Medical Colleges and Joint Director of Health Services of the state that in case, if a patient reports in the emergency ward of a hospital, for timely medical treatment, insistence on Covid Test is not to be done. However, Medical Officers and Para Medical personnel were asked to use all Covid protective gears.

#AssamCovidUpdate

👉In case if a patient reports in the emergency 🚑ward of a hospital, for timely medical treatment, insistence on #CovidTest is not to be done

👉However, Medical Officers and Para Medical personnel should use all Covid #protective gears. pic.twitter.com/A7GiQtA9Cf

— NHM_Assam (@nhm_assam) January 4, 2022

In his letter, the Principal Secretary directed that in case any general patient reports with the medical emergency for treatment of any disease, he/she should be provided immediate medical treatment by the Medical Officers and Para Medical staff on duty without insisting on prior COVID test report or waiting for any such test results. In such cases, the Medical Officer and other Para Medical personnel should use all protective gears like PPE Kit, N-95 masks, Gloves etc. for protection. This will help us to save many precious lives by providing medical help at the appropriate time.

Further, Joint Directors were also directed to issue necessary instructions to all public and private hospitals within their jurisdiction to follow this protocol strictly. The Principal cum Chief Superintendent of Medical Colleges were also directed to ensure that these instructions are followed in their respective Medical Colleges and Hospitals to rescue the emergency patients.