VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday expressed serious concern as the state was staring at shortage of medicines even as the deadly black fungus infections were on the rise.
During the Spandana review meeting, the CM noted that each patient should be given at least 50 injections a week. But the fact was that the state received only 3,000 injections from the centre which said another 2,000 would be sent soon. The state was impressing upon the centre for more vials.
On the supply of remdesivir injections, the CM said that around 50,000 injections a week were being made available to government hospitals, and around 60,000 to private hospitals, thus ensuring no shortage of the drug in the state. He ordered stern action against those selling the life-saving medicines in the black market.
Reddy called upon District Collectors to ensure that ‘104’ call centers become one-stop solution centre for all the needs of people affected by Covid. He cautioned them against any negligence in this aspect given the pandemic situation. He said the number of calls to the toll-free number fell from 19,000 calls to 7,000 calls, a sign of decline of positive cases. He directed the officials to focus on arranging oxygen and other medical facilities for beds at temporary German hangars.
Regarding the oxygen supply, the Chief Minister appreciated the increase in oxygen supply to over 600 tonnes from 330 tonnes earlier. As of now the state had enough oxygen to last for two days even during the cyclone, he observed. He advised against oxygen wastage and called for replenishing stocks wherever necessary. He said oxygen reserves should be maintained at every Covid hospital in order to avoid any loss of life. Reviewing the enforcement of curfew, Reddy asked officials not to brook any violations.
Deputy Chief Minister Alla Krishna Srinivas, Ministers Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy and Botsa Satyanarayana, DGP Gautam Sawang, Chief Commissioner of Land Administration Neerab Kumar Prasad, Special Chief Secretary (Agriculture) Poonam Malakondaiah, Covid Command Control Chairman Dr K.S. Jawahar Reddy, Special Chief Secretary (Municipal Administration) Y Srilakshmi, Panchayat Raj Commissioner Girija Shankar, Principal Secretary (Health) Anil Kumar Singhal, Principal Secretary (Women and Child Welfare) Anuradha and other officials were present.
