Lack of PPE, poor infection control put medical staff at risk of Covid-19

NEW DELHI: Health care workers risk contracting Covid-19 due to a lack of infection control in hospitals, doctors say amid complaints about substandard personal protective equipment ( PPE) and lack of basic items like N 95 masks and even sanitisers.

Dr Indranil Khan, an oncologist in Kolkata, who was detained for complaining about sub-standard PPEs on March 29, said doctors are at risk of getting infected along with other patients.“I have friends, juniors, seniors who are working in various hospitals in Kolkata and outside like in Siliguri who will not lie. The material supplied to hospitals has been substandard and inadequate. ...fighting a disease like Covid-19 is not a joke,” said Khan. “... government hospitals are not equipped at all which, in turn, will lead to the spread of infection not just among health workers but also among other patients.”

Khan on March 29 cited a news report about substandard PPEs and tweeted to request West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to take action. “All I need is real PPE to protect frontline doctors nurses fighting COVID 19. Raincoats are not adequate...,” he tweeted. He received a government response, assuring him. “But that evening I was picked up by cops for bringing disrepute to the government. I got interim relief when I moved the high court,” Khan said.

Dr Raveendra Reddy, an Intensive Care Unit consultant in Bengaluru, said anybody interacting with patients with Covid-19 like symptoms or even with asymptomatic ones “will need goggles, N 95 masks, ideally a face shield, PPE gowns...We need basic fluidresistant gear. It should be a composite kit.