12 COVID deaths at GMCH in a day prompts wee-hour visit by Assam minister

Assam health minister Keshab Mahanta said that all arrangements are being made for COVID-infected children with 300 beds kept ready up at GMCH.
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GUWAHATI:

The death of as many as 12 “critically-ill” COVID-19 patients at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) on Monday prompted health minister Keshab Mahanta to make a “sudden” visit at the hospital in the wee hours of Tuesday and decide on the need to have senior doctors on the night-duty roster.

The minister took stock of the situation in both GMCH and the super-speciality hospital, and also asked the deputy superintendent of GMCH, who was supervising the functioning of the hospital at night, to provide the list of the doctors who were on COVID duty on Monday.

Reportedly, the deceased patients, in the age group between 50 and 80 years, were “not vaccinated” and were brought to the hospital in a “critical condition with very low oxygen saturation levels.”

Assam reported 42 deaths on Monday and 12 of the fatalities were reported from GMCH.

Later speaking to media persons, Mahanta while expressing concern at the abrupt rise in deaths in a single day, underlined the need for some changes in management and supervision of affairs, particularly during the night.  

“I found that doctors were there but more senior doctors will be required during night duty. There is a need for change in the functioning and supervision of the hospital and I shall discuss these aspects with the GMCH principal and others today,” the minister said.

Mahanta further said that all arrangements are being made for COVID-infected children with 300 beds kept ready up at GMCH.

“Arrangements are being made in all the state medical colleges, district hospitals for treating children infected with the virus. The third wave has not come but we are ready,” he said.

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