COVID hits rural India: Letters to The Editor

The surge of COVID-19 cases in rural India is a matter of grave concern. The reason is the reverse migration of workers from the metro cities of the country to the villages and not adhering to the COVID safeguards. The basic healthcare facilities are available in the villages of the country and this medical infrastructure is not capable of dealing with COVID patients. In such a situation, the patients have to move to the cities for treatment. States need to take effective steps to curb the cases in rural areas. Strict lockdowns in villages and boosting of healthcare facilities should be considered.

Amit Singh Kushwaha,

Satna (M.P.)

Post-election violation

The news that we hear killings and clashes between TMC and BJP workers in West Bengal is not only disturbing but also are against the spirit of free-and-fair elections. If Mamata Banerjee wants to make her image good beyond State politics, she must give a firm signal that any violence will not be tolerated, because whosever is injured or killed, irrespective of his/her support to any party during the election, is the son/daughter of Bengal and any property damaged belongs to a Bengali. Now question is that who is responsible for this violence? It will be a lesson to the party and the people too.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Sorbhog

Anti-consumer practice

It has been observed that gradually drug manufacturers in India have started introducing 15 tablets or capsules per strip rather than the usual 10 just to mint extra money and profit. Usually, chemists sell a complete strip of the medicine rather than cutting the strip for fewer tablets. The rest of the tablets or capsules after taking the prescribed dose for limited days practically becomes a total waste for patients. The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (Union Ministry of Petro Chemicals) should regulate packing formula in true metric spirit by ensuring pack of medicines in packs of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 or 1000 tablets, capsules or millilitres and thereafter in multiples of 1000. Exemption from such packing formula may be sought from the regulatory authority for dose-wise administration. This will also prevent another anti-consumer practice of some commonly advertised medicines like cough lozenges being packed in strips of eight because consumers usually judge the price of such medicines per strip without realizing that the strip has less number of lozenges than the usual ten.

Drug manufacturers should also be directed to print the front side of strips in a manner that the name of the medicine appears on each tablet or capsule. Likewise, manufacturing and expiry dates should be printed repeatedly all over the backside of the strip. There must be some maximum overall trade margin on all medicines including both generic and branded medicines. Presently there is a very big loot even in the wholesale sale of generic medicines where medicines have Maximum Retail Price (MRP) which is at times ten times more than the distributor price.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi

Appeal by tea workers

The tea gardens in Assam serve as the backbone of our economy. As the Japanese scholar, Okazura Kazuko rightly said, "Tea began as a medicine and grew into a beverage". The importance of tea in our life and our culture can't be undermined. But it's a state of apathy that the tea gardens working are facing a harrowing time during this pandemic to get medical assistance & carry out sanitization in their work premises. The plea made for granting 'special SOPs' to the tea garden workers by the Assam Tea Tribes Students' Association (ATTSA) (The Sentinel, May 8) to the State government must be treated with high priority by the authorities concerned. Effective coordination of the State government authorities with the Deputy Commissioners and the Health department officers concerned will make the process of implementing 'special SOPs' smoother and faster. Creating awareness among the tea garden workers will help to flatten the curve of infections to a great extent.

Sir, through your esteemed daily, I would request the authorities concerned to have a dynamic and consistent approach in tackling the crisis in the tea gardens at the earliest.

Partha Pratim Duarah,

Nazira

Vaccination

Through the columns of your esteemed newspaper, I would like to draw attention to the registration for vaccination that is made compulsory by the government. It is good that registration should be made compulsory as people stand in queues to get vaccinated by breaking COVID protocols.

But this is unfair for those in remote areas or people who don't have access to the internet. There are many below poverty line families who don't have any idea regarding this vaccination. The government should find an alternative way for those who don't have access to the internet. There is also a scarcity of vaccination. With so many positive cases along with an increasing death rate, people are driving crazy to take the vaccine. I hope the government will try to find an alternative.

Himadri Kalita

Guwahati

A divided house

Almost a week is over post the declaration of the election results but still, the NDA has not taken over the reins of the State. The State is passing through the worst of crisis in the terms of COVID-19 and such a circumstance; formation of the government at the earliest is of utmost importance. But going by the recent developments in the BJP's circle there appears a clear fragmentation of two groups which is not at all a healthy sign. The BJP being a cadre-based party such divisions inside the camp imparts a very unhealthy sign. Sooner the better if all the bitter issues between the two camps are cleared.

Dr Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati

Suicide rates

Most recently, the suicide rates in developed countries have been on the rise. The only reason for this is the inconsistency between humans during COVID. In Japan, the suicide rate among women is on the rise. For which the Japanese government has been forced to set up a Ministry of Solidarity. In our country too, some people have suffered mental illness due to misery and along with this, there have been unfortunate incidents like suicide.

However, the psychiatric infrastructure in India is still far from adequate. According to reliable sources, there is only one psychiatrist for an average of four lakh Indians. In our country, therefore, it has become imperative to take immediate steps to strengthen the issue of psychiatric treatment.

Heramba Nath,

Kamrup

Wastage of medical oxygen

The entire country is reeling under an acute shortage of medical oxygen as COVID cases increase rapidly. In this background of severe shortage, it is pertinent to raise the question of whether there is wastage of medical oxygen by administering the lifesaver to patients who may not need it. This apprehension strengthened when experts like Dr Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS voiced concern. He said that healthy individuals with oxygen saturation of 93-94 per cent do not need to take high flow oxygen just to maintain saturation at 98-99 per cent. It's not going to be of any benefit. If it is less than 94, you need close monitoring, but you may still not need oxygen, the expert of the premier hospital opined. Echoing his views on oxygen, Naresh Trehan, Chairman, Medanta also urged people not to use oxygen as a security blanket as he maintained that wastage of oxygen will deprive someone in dire need of it.

Similar views have also emerged against the indiscriminate use of Remdesivir injections. They concur that only in high-grade fever and cases where the oxygen falls below desirable levels, treatment will necessitate Remdesivir, steroids etc.

In the light of the above, it is proper on the part of the State government to engage with medical professionals of the State to develop protocols for COVID treatment keeping in mind the scarce resources of Oxygen, Remdesivir, etc so that those who are in dire need of it do not get deprived. Awareness campaigns on the ill effects of misuse/overuse of drugs may also be considered by the government to curb the mad scramble for oxygen/Remdesivir etc. Dr Devi Shetty has rightly emphasized that in case you are positive, see a doctor and get his opinion. Do not panic. COVID-19 is common now. It is a problem that can be solved provided you get medical help at an early stage and follow the doctor's instructions.

Rajib Sarma,

Guwahati