Union Home Ministry on Monday instructed all the states andthe Union Territories (UTs) to ensure opening of all private clinics, nursinghomes and labs with all their medical professionals and staff on duty.
The order issued by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla to allstate Chief Secretaries and UT authorities also directed the facilitating ofsuch inter-state movement, whenever required.
All states and UTs should ensure that their field officialsallow smooth movements of all medical professionals, nurses, para-medical,sanitation personnel and ambulances, Bhalla emphasized that a.
The Ministry issued the order following information thatprivate clinics and nursing homes were not allowed to open so far at manyplaces.
“The functioning of these medical facilities, whichsupplement the regular medical infrastructure , and relieve the burden onhospitals, is also crucial. I would urge all states and UTs to ensure that suchclinics and nursing homes continue to function without any hindrance,”Bhalla’s letter reads.
The instructions followed Sunday’s meeting of CabinetSecretary Rajiv Gauba with the Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries(Health) of all states and UTs through a video conferencing wherein the issueof restrictions being imposed by some states and UTs on the movement of medicalprofessionals and para-medical personnel was flagged.
The services of medical and para-medical staff are urgentlyrequired in meeting the challenges of novel coronaviurs or COVID-19 pandemic.Furthermore, the existing staff, apart from this duty, also have to rendernormal responsibilities, such as conducting immunization programmes, handlingthe onset of vector and other seasonal diseases, and meeting other non-COVID-19emergencies.
In this scenario, as pointed out by the Cabinet Secretary,any restrictions on the movement of medical fraternity can lead to severeconstraints in rendering COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 medical services, the ordersaid.
“As such, ensuring unhindered movement of all suchmedical professionals is essential for meeting public health requirements andsaving precious human lives,” the order added.
The order came will still nearly a week left for theLockdown3.0 to expire as the medical fraternity is at the forefront of the waragainst COVID-19.