Health centres and MBBS doctors inadequate in rural UP : Minister Sidharth Nath Singh

Prayagraj, May 1 (HS): Covid-19 has spread to the state’s rural areas, causing “massive concern,” according to Sidharth Nath Singh, a cabinet minister in the Uttar Pradesh government who oversees the MSME (Micro Small and Medium Enterprise) portfolio and a Prayagraj MLA.

In a candid discussion with HS, the minister acknowledged that the issue in rural areas is exacerbated due to lack of medical facilities.

Singh previously served as the state’s health minister. “The matter (whether panchayat polls should be held) went up to the High Court, which approved it,” he said when asked if the multi-phased panchayat (local body) elections contributed to the increase in cases in rural areas.

According to Singh, the number of health centers and MBBS doctors in rural Uttar Pradesh is insufficient. “I recall when I took over as health minister (in 2017), the state’s primary health centers (PHCs) were non-operational. In addition, the number of MBBS doctors in government hospitals in comparison to the total population is insufficient. There are 18,000 approved posts for doctors in government hospitals in UP, which has a population of over 20 crores… the ratio does not fit at any level.” Singh clarified that the shortage is not due to Covid, but has existed for some time. “We’re in the midst of a pandemic right now,” he said.

The UP government is beefing up medical facilities in villages as Covid numbers soar in rural areas, according to the minister. “People in villages conceal their disease. They are apprehensive about getting screened. We’ve enlisted ASHA staff and about 3,000 women from self-help organizations to go door to door and encourage people to get screened if they become ill,” he said.

Nobody denies that UP, like the rest of India, was unprepared to deal with the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the cabinet minister. “It’s because we expected a storm after the first wave, but what we got was a tsunami,” Singh explained.

“No one saw it coming… Any government will be overwhelmed by such a tidal wave. However, you must deal with it and take a public stance. There are issues, but they must be addressed. We’re dealing with the situation, and cases have started to decline in the last three days,” said Singh, who is also the UP government’s spokesperson.

On claims that there is a disparity between the government’s estimates for Covid deaths and the numbers based on cremation and burial ground figures across districts, Singh categorically denied this. “It’s a myth. “There are no deaths that are being kept hidden,” he said.

Every district is pushing to raise the number of beds.” According to the minister, the state currently has 1.16 lakh Covid isolation beds and 65,000 oxygen and ICU beds. “Beds are being saturated because Covid patients are being sent to 4-5 hospitals in one location, which is taxing the system.”

According to Singh, the patient allocation must now be handled based on available beds in the districts. “Many people tend to visit a specific hospital. There are some patients who are recovering and do not need hospitalization. If you start moving them to the most simple isolation rooms that are open, they can cause problems.”

In terms of oxygen, Singh said UP is in a tight race with the rest of the country in terms of demand and supply. “However, we do need more and are in the process of arranging it.”

According to Singh, UP is expanding its research facilities. “We’ve already placed orders for 40 RT-PCR machines. They’ll be here by the 10th of May, which will boost testing numbers,” Singh said.

We have added 130 government labs and between 115 and 120 private sector labs.” Singh claims that since taking power in the state, the government has increased the number of medical colleges. “There were only 12 medical colleges in UP in 2017. There are now 39 medical colleges.”