Alarming rise in cases, deaths and an infection rate faster than recoveries- the one liner is sufficient to mirror the prevailing Covid-dictated existence of the nation. The word ‘more’ is now a permanent prefix when it comes to disseminating news on daily deaths and cases. Evidently, the list of ‘pressing needs’ for facing the second onslaught if commencing with vaccine, has now more additions- oxygen cylinders, oxygenated beds, ventilators and the drug Remdesivir. While the most-critical states had raised a hue and cry over the supply of the vaccine(s) roughly a week before, on and from Saturday, the chorus that took a high pitch was regarding replenishment of the remaining ones, which in medical parlance are all life-saving. Health ministers of 11 severely-COVID-affected states in a high-level meeting chaired by the union Health Minister have aired concern that the demand-supply gap of these items is getting wider and an immediate Central help is urgently necessary. It’s time to face the harsh reality that the medical system of these states is on the verge of collapse and a presumption of an imminent national health catastrophe can be made if the other states, now purportedly in the safe zone, join the list.

Sunday’s national Covid addition count showed it was 2.6+ lakh. While it’s worrisome no doubt, 1501 deaths which is a substantial rise over the previous day’s figure has given way to a general consensus among various medical experts that many of them could have been saved if life-saving medical attention had arrived timely- a significant pointer that the hospitals are now under extreme strain. An already weak health infrastructure has now been infirmed further with processions of patients and each day seems to be witnessing the unfolding of newer tragedies. Anticipating the situation, the states raised pertinent issues like medical oxygen supply and capping of prices of essential drugs like Remdesivir so that they may be kept outside the grip of the black marketeers. In a strange development that has turned out to be an endorsement of the concern, on Sunday a top executive of a Daman-based pharmaceutical company and his aide have been arrested from Valsad district in Gujarat for allegedly black marketing Remdesivir. There can be a repetition for oxygen cylinders, akin to that observed in the first phase last year and if the existing legal provisions are short in punishing the crooks, they must be amended at once.

The country is also tired of narrow politics and political colours of governments of states/UTs mustn’t be the determining factor in the arrival of Central support during this hour of crisis. But anyhow, the crooks planning to make extra bucks through hoarding and black marketing must be crushed with iron hands. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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