Need more vaccine: Jagan directs officials to write to centre

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy on 15 April directed the health officials to write to the Central government seeking COVID-19 vaccines amid a shortage of vaccines in the state. He said he would write the letter seeking the same if necessary.

Jagan held a meeting on Thursday at the camp office here to discuss the COVID-19 situation and vaccination programme in the state. He congratulated health officials for administrating 6.28 lakh doses of vaccine the previous day and achieving the stipulated target. Earlier, the state government had been forced to shut down several vaccination centers due to a shortage of vaccines. It had sought 27 lakh doses from the Centre.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the Chief Minister instructed the officials to prepare hospital beds for COVID-19 patients and launch ambulance services. He told officials to publicize 104 services and to ensure that hospital beds and treatment are provided through these services. The patients should be admitted to hospitals or advised home isolation based on the suggestion of doctors, Jagan said and added that ambulance services should be provided and treatment be expedited with the help of ASHA workers.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to fix prices for treatment in private hospitals and ensure they don't charge more. He said there should be no scarcity of beds for COVID-19 patients and directed the officials to maintain a record on the availability of beds in Arogyasri empanelled hospitals and private hospitals. He said the fee and charges for treatment should be displayed at hospitals and the details on whom to complain if the hospitals charge more should be displayed. The cost of medicine and injections should also be displayed, he said, adding that strict action should be taken against hospitals that charge more from patients.

Jagan asked the officials to allot 1902 number for grievances and said people should call 104 only for COVID-19 queries. He instructed them to set up hoardings and posters at public places like bus stands publicizing the same. Do not compromise on tests, treatment, medicine, sanitation, and quality of food in hospitals, Jagan told the officials.

Primary contacts of COVID-19 patients should be traced and tested and arrangements should be made to conduct tests in all PHCs, Jagan further said, adding people calling 104 requesting COVID tests should be directed to their respective PHCs or sub-center or village clinic.

The Chief Minister also directed the officials to focus on vaccination and complete the process as soon as possible. He said everyone above 45 years and all health care and frontline workers should be vaccinated. He said six lakh vaccines should be administered every day for some more days to complete the stipulated targets. He asked the officials to prepare a protocol for regular monitoring of people who are home quarantined and said they should be provided COVID kits with seven types of tablets and capsules.

Jagan wanted Oxygen cylinders supplied to hospitals and asked officials to ensure that Oxygen cylinders are produced at full capacity in Vizag production centre and supplied to hospitals. He said the required injections should be made available in all hospitals.