The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government is contemplating giving assistance to the families of those who have died due to Covid-19, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said today.
The Health Department has been tasked with working out the details of this proposal within two days, Tynsong said after a review meeting here.
Meanwhile, the government also discussed the apparent high cost of coronavirus treatment in private hospitals. The Health Department has also been told to arrive at a solution to this problem.
Patients with a severe case of Covid will require extensive treatment and this is the reason for the steep hospital bills, Dr Aman Warr, the Director of Health Services said. Treatment in the intensive care unit can cost up to Rs 15,000 in a single day, he added.
Tynsong also informed that the government has identified three more Corona Care Centres (CCCs) in Shillong – the Industrial Training Institute at Rynjah, the Basic Training Centre at Malki and Directorate of Commerce and Industries at Nongrim Hills. This will provide an additional 150 beds for coronavirus patients.
Meanwhile, the government is also planning to set up more beds in Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres to accommodate Covid patients in rural areas.
Each CCC would require lakhs of rupees in financing, for doctors, nurses and other expenses.
“These (CCCs) will be of around 20 beds each and would be useful for those who stay in the vicinity of such facilities,” the Deputy CM said.
Dr Warr informed that the manpower requirements, such as that of nurses, will be drawn from those who have already finished their studies and they will be appointed as and when required.
