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Medical fraternity terms Bengal CM’s “diploma for doctors” & “civic nurses” proposals ‘unscientific’, fear ruin of health sector

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On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came up with few absurd proposals during a review meeting of ‘Utkarsha Bangla’ which was launched under vocational training programme courses in the state. However, I having a personal experience with a victim who left the project because she accused the management of creating a mess, not just that but those who stay in the hostel are not even served proper facilities like food, water etc. I did a story on this harassment sometime back which you may read by scrolling down.

Let’s take a glance at the proposals that Mamata Banerjee suggested:

(1) Crash course for doctors to fill the vacant positions at respective hospitals across the state. Instructing state Health Secretary NS Nigam to look into the matter, Banerjee said, “You please find out whether we can start a diploma course for doctors, just like we have for engineers. Several boys and girls will get the opportunity to enroll for the medical course.”

(2) The Chief Minister suggested crash courses for nurses. She came up with a proposal for ‘Civic Nurse’. She said, “One can learn how to push injections or help with the pathological preparations within a stipulated time period. There are senior nurses to help doctors during surgery etc. These nurses can competent after the crash course and start working.”

(3) Taking of Law & Order, which is in total chaos in the state. Recently we saw police accused of protecting the criminals who had gang-raped the minor girl in Kaliaganj and subsequently running for protection when villagers united. Banerjee also the Police Minister, suggested crash courses for seven days after which they can be posted at respective police stations.

“The regular MBBS course takes five years to complete and asserted that a diploma course would address the shortage of doctors in the state. The proposed diploma course, as per sources within the West Bengal health department, could be of three years,” added Mamata Banerjee.

The medical fraternity in the state criticised the proposal. West Bengal Doctors Forum (WBDF) founder-secretary Dr Koushik Sarkar called the proposal as ‘unscientific’ and asked the state government to rethink. “The proposal of a three-year diploma course is not all scientific. I will request the state government to think scientifically,” added Dr Sarkar.

Regarding the crash course for police, experts condemned the proposal by saying there are numerous details apart from uniform and leading protocols that make a young incumbent qualified police personel. A retired top cop on a television debate said, “How is it possible as it takes months for an incumbent to understand and learn the basic legal aspects. Apart from that there are numerous details that a police personel must learn like recognising if it’s a murder or suicide and if murder etc. Crash course for police is absurd as it will reflect on their performance.”

The social media is abuz with taunts, critisism and condemnation. A popular journalist with a Bengali satelite news channel posted, “I am planning to give up journalism and take medical crash course.” Others too have been posting against the proposal.

Well, just the begining of another heated controversy that will take shape of a storm in the coming days. Presently, we have state medical fraternity protesting against the proposal but if Mamata Banerjee tries to impliment her proposal then it will acquire a country wide protest. Perhaps everything is “choto ghotona” (petty incident) for West Bengal Chief Minister.

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Is Bengal really prepared to face COVID variant BF.7 upsurge? CM, Heath Minister to continue with New Years bash & Ganga Sagar Mela

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In wake of the recent upsurge in COVID across the globe, worst affected is China that is now under complete lockdown after it reported endless deaths. Back home in India too, the situation is under scanner as the Union Health Ministry is keeping a strict vigil on the situation. The Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had chaired a high level health meeting on Wednesday followed by another meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The virtual meeting was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister Mandaviya alongwith senior officials including doctors.

The outcome of the meeting, the government said there was nothing to be scared at this moment but stressed on the need to follow COVID protocols. Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Assam even Punjab decided to follow COVID protocols. As expected West Bengal showed reluctance in implementing the COVID protocols at this moment.

Trinamool Supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee immediately after the meeting chaired by PM Modi, said her state is prepared for the adverse situation but she will not implement the COVID protocol at this hour as she does not feel the need for facemask. It seems Mamata Banerjee has not learn from the past experience. Last year, immediately after the New Year bash at Park Street (regular event) there was an upsurge of COVID. The medical fraternity had literally pleaded Banerjee with folding hands not to relax the protocols but she had turned a deaf ear to the requests of doctors. This year too inspite of the COVID scare, the West Bengal chief minister has announced ther will be New Years bash as usual and the Ganga Sagar Mela (an annual event) will not be carried as per schedule.

On Friday, Mansukh Mandaviya, chaired a virtual meeting with states and announced West Bengal will be a part of the countrywide mock drill on December 27 to ensure the readiness of infrastructure with a specific focus on oxygen plants, ventilators, logistics and human resources. State health minister Chandima Bhattacharya informed that the state is prepared for the situation. However, there was a total reluctance on the implementing of COVID protocols. “There will be a countrywide Covid-19 mock drill on December 27. West Bengal will be conducting the drill as well”, informed Bhattacharya. She said the state was continuing with genome sequencing. 

West Bengal had ignored the COVID protocols during Durga Puja, Diwali or Kali Puja, Christmas, New Years and Ganga Sagar Mela. The result of this was an upsurge in the COVID cases. The state government speaks of preparations, but the fact is it had under played the numbers of deaths in the previous surges. Not just this, but the death certificates were allegedly doctored as there was an unwritten stricture of putting any reason behind the death but COVID as it would bring the actual number in the glare. I myself met many such poor families who had lost their near and dear ones to the pandemic but did not either get the mortal remains from the hospital which was sent directly to the Dhapa ground for mass cremation or the death certificate carried different reason of death. I saw these people fuming but in tears. Yet, Chadrima Bhattacharya and Banerjee are talking of preparations to face any adverse situation.

Well, in such a situation all we can do is to keep our fingers crossed and pray no fatality are reported,