CPI (ML) New Democracy demands free medical care for COVID-19 patients in Delhi

The Delhi Committee of CPI (ML) New Democracy has issued a statement expressing shock and concern over the statement of Delhi Health Minister Jain that over 100 private nursing homes in the Capital have been asked to keep 20% beds for COVID-19 patients, as already marked facilities are 'overflowing'.

It has also noted that there is no commitment forthcoming from the Delhi Government that these beds will come under the purview of the Delhi Govt for the pandemic period, that the patients placed there will have their treatment and investigation costs covered by the Delhi Government, or that the Government will take over that section of the hospital facility from both jurisdiction and financial angle for the period of pandemic.

“The pitiless audacity shown by the Kejriwal Government in declared unconcern for potential patients is as much in keeping with its anti-people and mercenary character displayed in the course of the pandemic over past two months as it is in keeping with the callous attitude to people's misery shown by the Central Govt. In the name of shelter homes Delhi Govt kept the migrant workers in mosquito riddled schools of far flung areas, when several cleaner versions of govt school buildings were available in the rest of Delhi. Policemen have sent in reports on the unsanitary conditions,” it says.

“People are still on roads outside stations, all e services are accessible only in the imagination of the govt, whether coupons for ration or other help. Tenants are being thrown out as the Delhi Govt has extended no help to pay rentals though many room owners, it is well known, rely on rentals for survival. 99% workers have got no wages for April,” it adds.

Here is the full text of the statement:

It is on the health front that the callousness of the Delhi Govt is most unnerving. In March itself it was known that only 1/3 of ventilators in the city were in Govt hands. How did the govt ramp up its capacity? How many of Delhi's stadia or public halls have been prepared for patients. Why are Delhi govt hospitals not testing all potential cases for COVID-19 especially all cases with suggestive symptoms? Why are FREE tests just not being done? Why are the sick being advised to go for private testing? Why are only beds in private facilities which patients have to pay for, being added for COVID-19 care -- the Govt continues to be in mode to help private profits even in pandemic times?

Why is the Delhi Govt not willing to spend Delhi's money to ensure good health care to all people of Delhi and in a transparent manner? It is the best kept secret that govt facilities are NOT testing influenza patients for free, and are forcing people to go to private facilities. Shoddy govt health care intervention despite best medical ability and facilities being available in the city is coupled with verbose false promises. The massive working class of Delhi especially the services sector, Delhi's vulnerable and even the ordinary middle class stands abandoned by the Delhi Govt, which is busy ensuring liquor sales and selling fuel at jacked up prices.

Delhi Govt is still to announce that the one crore promised to health workers who die in Delhi is being given to the kin of either the mess

worker of RP Ophthalmic Centre in AIIMS who died recently of COVID-19, to that of the nurse of a private hospital who died in Safdarjung Hospital yesterday, or to that of the Sanitation supervisor of AIIMS Delhi who died yesterday. That money was to mark an acknowledgement by people of Delhi and was no personal dole of the Delhi Govt.

Delhi Comm. CPI(ML) New Democracy calls on Delhi Govt to ensure immediately:

1. That kits will be procured and every single suspected case of COVID-19 presenting in any health facility in Delhi will be tested free of cost. There should be transparency about numbers.
2. All cases not needing admission will be medically supervised in quarantine period as part of public health services and by medical people and not policemen.
3. Where there is shortage of personnel in public health services, the same should be taken over from the private sector (80% facility is there) and the bill will be of the Govt. This is a pandemic, a medical alert situation and the Govt of Delhi has to provide for the people in Delhi.
4. As this Govt has neither ability nor interest in actually helping migrant workers, immediately sufficient trains should be ensured and workers who want to go home sent back efficiently at state cost with food and water, urgently. They are sitting hungry and thirsty at borders and outside railway stations; it's because they are optionless and only govts deny this harsh truth. We remind that money with the Delhi Govt belongs to the people. In a pandemic at least, it has to be spent for the maximum people.
5. All COVID-19 patients should be treated and investigated at Delhi Govt expense irrespective of whether they are insured or not. Delhi Govt has wasted 2 months, not ramped up its state health services, kept OPDs closed, failed in functioning dispensaries and clinics. Cases will increase. Delhi govt must build, procure or takeover medical facilities and personnel in required number stat. Delhi Govt must ensure protective gear and adequate facilities to every single health personnel of all categories in Delhi.

We call on people of Delhi to demand adequate, govt funded healthcare from the Govt as their right. We call on all political parties and democratic organizations in the Capital, especially those which support this Govt, to build a movement for ensuring the same.