Unite irrespective of political differences to fight against Covid: CM Jagan

VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said on Thursday that as the state had lost tier-1 cities in the process of the 2014 bifurcation, there arose a problem in accessing advanced treatments and in having super-specialty hospitals and better medical infrastructure facilities.

He recalled that in such conditions, the state government has taken up the Nadu-Nedu initiative for revamping all government hospitals right from PHC level to Teaching hospitals and according them national standards as also ensuring one teaching hospital and a medical college in each parliamentary constituency.

Reddy said this is the time for everyone to unite, irrespective of their political differences, to fight against Covid. He told the media and the opposition not to cause panic among the people with fake news and false propaganda.

The CM said that despite the lack of tier-1 cities, the government solely focused on fast-testing and fast-treatment to fight against Covid19 with the help of volunteers and Asha workers. This has helped the state to be one with the lowest death rate.

He explained that in the second wave alone over 47,000 beds have been made available for Covid patients in 649 dedicated Covid hospitals across the state. He said, besides these, over 52,000 beds have been set up in covid care centers. Some 18,000 oxygen concentrators were made available. The number of testing centres has been increased to over 150, wherein almost one lakh tests are being done every day.

The CM said the government had recruited over 18,270 staff including doctors, technicians and specialists to treat patients in 629 Covid hospitals and also strengthened 104 call centres to address Covid-related issues. He said that, until May 16, as many as 3.12 lakh calls were attended to by 104 call centres that also assisted in providing admission for 60,634 patients to hospitals.