Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 12: The health experts have given mixed reactions on J&K Government’s separate policy on quarantining asymptomatic COVID-19 patients for Jammu and Kashmir regions with some terming the latest decisions as totally absurd and unjustified while others praised the decision take for Jammu and demanded to implement the same in Kashmir in the interest of common masses.
“Jammu and Kashmir are neither separate states nor separate UTs, they are just two provinces of one UT. Even Coronavirus do not discriminate between people of Jammu and Kashmir regions then why Government has taken different decisions for the two regions on quarantining asymptomatic COVID-19 positive,” said Dr Ghanshyam Gupta (ex-Principal, GMC Jammu) while expressing shock over the Government’s separate set of rules for the two regions.
Dr Gupta said that Jammuites do not raise their voice against discrimination met to them and that’s why they are always taken as granted. Terming the latest decisions of the J&K Government as strange, he said same policy should be made for isolation of COVID positive people in both the regions.
Dr Anil Mahajan, former Head, Department of Medicine, GMC Jammu said that the decision shocked everybody but there must be some reason behind it. He said as is evident the COVID situation is out of control in Kashmir, everyday around 400 people are found positive for Coronavirus and 8-10 people succumb to this dreaded virus, there is no space in quarantine centres and even hospitals are full but as far as Jammu region is concern, the situation is quite under control. “So, this may be reason behind Government’s separate policy for Jammu and Kashmir regions,” Dr Mahajan added.
Terming the separate decisions for two regions as illogical, Dr Zahid Gillani, former Principal, GMC Jammu, said that such decisions shall come when no health experts will be involved in decision making body. Since outbreak of the pandemic, many such decisions have been taken as those at the helm of affairs do not come from health or medical line.
He asserted that experts from Health and Medical Education Department should be involved in decision making as far as COVID-19 situation is concerned. He said just as a doctor cannot advise or take decision on revenue cases, officers from other fields cannot take decision on health of people.
Former Director, Health Services, Jammu, Dr BS Pathania, however said that the Government decision to keep asymptomatic COVID positive people in institutional quarantine, is a very good decision in the interest of the public but he said that at the same time, Government should take steps to improve conditions of quarantine centers whether it is sanitation, bedding, lodging or food.
Dr Pathania said that in cities and towns, the condition of the quarantine centers is quite better but in semi-rural areas, the quarantine centers are in worst condition. He said if the condition of quarantine centers is not improved, people will flee from there. Dr Pathania said in Kashmir also, the institutional quarantine should be mandatory and the decision should be implemented in letter and spirit.
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