No point hiding Covid figures, Kishan tells TS

There is an urgent need for creating faith among the people on the services being provided by government hospitals in the state for Covid-19 patients, Union minister of state for home G. Kishan Reddy said on Saturday.

The minister said Covid19 was a global pandemic and the state government should have no reason to hide the actual number of people who are dying from the disease or those affected. “If such is the case, then it is not the right thing to do. I am asking the state government to come clean and reveal the true figures. The Centre is only willing to help the state government in combating the disease,” he said.

Kishan Reddy was speaking with reporters at the Gandhi Hospital, after his visit to the facility. Earlier in the day, he also visited TIMS at Gachibowli, and the Government Ayurvedic Hospital. This is the second time that Kishan Reddy visited Covid-19 hospitals.

“I met with doctors, nurses, staff and officials at these hospitals and interacted with patients. We need to give them confidence and take steps to increase the faith of the people in government hospitals. Right now, many people are going to private hospitals and paying huge bills and going into debt. This needs to change,” he said.

The minister also warned that the coming weeks are expected to see a worsening of the Covid19 situation and state government needs to increase the number of beds for the patients and hospitals to treat them.

He said there was a need for increasing the incentives being paid to staff, particularly the outsourced and Class 4 workers. “The government said it is recruiting 279 doctors. This number will not be enough. Many more should be recruited as outsourced employees and they should include nurses, maintenance and other staff,” he said.

Kishan Reddy expressed serious concern that containment measures were not being implemented strictly. “Many people who tested positive and are under home quarantine are leaving their homes and going around. The government and residential associations must put an end to this. It is also a matter of concern that villages too are reporting cases,” he said.