Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 14: A woman, who was already suffering from several health problems, was infected with COVID19. As her condition deteriorated, she went to a private hospital. When she reached the hospital, she had high fever. Out of weakness, she pleaded for treatment.

The state capital is reeling under the coronavirus second wave of infections and the infected persons find it hard to get treated. The infected woman aged 58, who failed to get a bed in the hospital, was suffering by lying down on a bench outside the hospital for an entire day. This incident came into the open with inordinate delay.

The woman, it is learnt, undergoes dialysis procedure at a prestigious private hospital in the city twice every week. During her previous dialysis, her throat swab sample was collected and sent for COVID test. When she returned for the next dialysis yesterday, the staff told her she had tested positive for the pandemic.

The woman, already grappling with health problems, had become very sick. She was very weak and requested the hospital staff to help. It is said that the private hospital staff did not allow her to enter the hospital, nor did they provided any treatment to her by wearing the PPE kit. It is said that the staff claimed that being a non-COVID hospital, coronavirus infection could not be treated there.

The woman lied down on the footpath in front of the hospital. She struggled in the face of extreme heat caused by bright sunshine and lack of food and water. Even the hospital ambulances lined up next to her bench did not show the courtesy to attend to her. Even though calls were made to No 108 and BBMP officials, no one responded.

State health minister Dr Sudhakar, in a press conference earlier this week, had said that 50 percent beds in private hospitals would be set aside for coronavirus patients. Last time the hospitals had done so. The hospitals have been instructed to fall in line this time too and they have agreed. Dr Sudhakar had said that patients who are asymptomatic and with minor symptoms should be accommodated in hotels and Covid care centres.

It is learnt that the private hospitals will take a week to provide beds. The health minister has not said anything about the solution to the sufferings of the sick people waiting for beds.