Central team satisfied with Gujarat model of Covid treatment

Gandhinagar, July 17 (IANS) The four-member central government team on a two-day visit to Gujarat expressed satisfaction with the Covid-19 situation in the state. The team visited hospitals in Ahmedabad and Surat on Friday and will take stock of affairs in the rest of the state on Saturday.

Speaking to the media, NITI Aayog member, Vinod Pal said, "The situation in Gujarat is satisfactory for the treatment of coronavirus patients. On a two-day visit to Gujarat, we went to Ahmedabad and Surat, visited the hospitals, met the healthcare officials and staff, doctors and reviewed the entire situation."

"In Gujarat, we saw many initiatives which can be replicated for Covid-19 treatment in other states, like the Dhanvantari Rath, 104 helpline, community participation in isolation wards. The linking of private hospitals by the government is also a good initiative which can also be replicated elsewhere in the country. We are taking lots of valuable information and ideas from here, which can be replicated in other parts of the country," added Pal.

All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria said, "The initiative of Dhanvantari Rath is wonderful. These ‘Raths' have been very helpful in treating non-Covid patients, where the patients do not have to go to the hospital to get treated, while exposing themselves to other threats."

"Throughout the course of time of Covid treatment across the country, we have come to know that the most important aspect in treatment is oxygen supply. If a critical patient is provided adequate oxygen at the right time, I don't think that in many cases even the ventilators are required," added Guleria.

He said that the government is setting up Covid centres of excellence in every state for the improvement in Covid treatment. "Every Tuesday and Friday we regularly have a review meeting, where we exchange ideas on treatment, so that we can learn from each other's experience and the treatment can be improved," added Guleria.

The four-member team will be visiting other districts of the state on Saturday and review the situation there. They will also meet with healthcare officials of the state government.