KATHMANDU, Oct 2: Following the death of a doctor due to COVID-19 in Surkhet district yesterday, the Nepal Medical Association (NMA) submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Health and Population to take all the responsibility of the entire management including medical expenses if any health worker catches the virus.

Stating that a total of 79,728 people have been infected with coronavirus and 509 have succumbed to the virus, the association has demanded that the government make arrangements of emergency helicopters to airlift health workers to Kathmandu for speedy treatment if they test positive and need immediate care.

In the memorandum, the NMA has asked the government to increase the number of essential medicines including injection, Remedesivir along with ventilators, medical oxygen, ICU beds and general beds required for the treatment of COVID-19 as mentioned in the guidelines of the Nepal Medical Council.

The NMA has stressed the need for formulating and implementing an efficient strategy related to infection management for all health institutions across the country as recommended by the World Health Organization.

“Safety materials should be made readily available to boost the morale of all frontliners,” the memorandum stated, “The ministry should form a different division for the management of necessary treatment of health workers infected during the treatment of COVID-19.”

“The government should also ensure a payment of Rs 10 million as insurance if doctors involved in the treatment of COVID-19 die of the infection,” the statement added.

To reduce the crowd of patients at health facilities, the NMA has recommended the implementation of an appointment system at the hospitals. They have said that the government should arrange training for the operation of ICU and ventilator and conduct public awareness programs related to COVID-19 to prevent the spread at the community level.

 
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