SMITA BHATTACHARYYA: In the wake of many deaths of Covid19 positive and negative patients allegedly due to lack of proper treatment at JMCH, another protest was staged in Jorhat on Tuesday.
The protest was led by All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and former Jorhat MLA Rana Goswami in front of the Jorhat Medical College Hospital (JMCH).
This was the second protest in Jorhat against the medical system in JMCH.
The first protest was staged by Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) at Mithpukhurivarea by burning an effigy of the Assam health department on Monday.
The protest was staged against the allegations of non-treatment to patients brought to the hospital in serious condition as the doctors wait for 2-3 days for Covid19 results to come.
Goswami and other protesters, holding placards, and shouting slogans, were accompanied by the family members of two persons, who died at JMCH recently due to such a practice which delayed treatment.
Goswami said as a former public representative, he has come out to the streets after many people complained to him of patients with serious ailments brought to JMCH not reportedly attended due to the practice of waiting till Covid19 results are out.
The former MLA said he and his party was with the government in the fight against COVID19, but he added that in the name of Covid19 protocol, patients with serious ailments should not be kept waiting without medical care till the swab test results are out.
“Achintya Baishya, Meghnath Mahili, Ashok Sahani and Sameer Phukan have died in this manner and it shame that the government has not taken cognisance of such serious lapses in treatment of patients due to such a practice,” Goswami said.
“I urge the leaders to take urgent steps to rectify this,” he said.
Goswami further said if policemen, government servants or politicians of the ruling party be put through this rigmarole, they would understand how it feels.
The AICC secretary said in many cases, the results of patients brought in serious condition turned out later to be Covid19 negative.
“Be a patient in critical condition brought to the hospital test positive or (Covid19) negative he/she should be provided immediate medical treatment and government should take necessary measures in this regard,” Goswami demanded.
Last week, a group of citizens of Jorhat sent a memorandum to the Assam chief minister and health minister seeking their intervention for providing immediate and adequate medical treatment to common public suffering from serious ailments.
