Government has directed all hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir to ensure doctors are provided Personal Protective Gear (PPG) and accommodation.
The directions were issued after a doctor in Jammu frommicrobiology wing got infected while collecting samples in the Isolation Wardof Government Medical College and Hospital at Bakshi Nagar.
Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical EducationDepartment, Atal Dulloo has directed Director, SKIMS Soura, Srinagar,Principal/Deans of Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) Jammu and Srinagar,Principals of GMCs in Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Rajouri, Kathua, andDirectorate of Health Services, Jammu as well as Kashmir, to ensure protectionof doctors with PPG.
Dulloo said: “At many places the healthcare professionalshave been complaining of non-availability of Personal Protective Gears (PPG).”He said the doctors have also been demanding accommodation for themselves andother staff members dealing with CVOID positive cases.
“All the heads of the health and medical educationdepartment shall ensure the safety of the healthcare professionals, who arevery important resource of J&K government and are working very hard to dealwith the COVID-19 pandemic situation,” Dulloo said in his directions addressedto the principals, and deans of different hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the PPG for healthcare professionals should bearranged by the heads of the institution and provided to them to protect themfrom cross infection.
Similarly, the arrangements for the stay of doctors andstaff members treating COVID positive cases shall also be made in consultationwith the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu as well as Kashmir, in respectiveregions.
“The heads of the departments shall put in requisitions tothe Divisional Commissioner concerned and make such arrangements,” he directed.
Meanwhile, President, Doctors’ Association Jammu, DrBalvinder Singh has welcomed Atal Dulloo’s directions for providing personnelprotective kits to all doctors of state working to deal with covid19 pandemicsituation.
“Steps like this will boost morale of doctors working inthis crisis. Doctors of Jammu and Kashmir will work 24 x7 to fightcoronavirus,” Dr Singh said.
Pertinently, the health authorities in Jammu have arrangedaccommodation in hotels for the stay of the doctors treating positive cases sothat they do not contact with their families.