Panaji: Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Friday announced that the COVID-19 recovered patients, who donate their plasma, would be eligible for one year of free medical treatment and complimentary health check-up for him and his family.
Addressing a press conference, Rane said that the free medical treatment for one year and complimentary health check-up for the donor and his family members is an incentive so that more donors come ahead to give to their plasma.
The Health Minister said that the Plasma therapy is working well in recovery of COVID-19 positive patients, who are admitted in hospitals. He said that State government facilities require at least 1,000 plasma bags at this point of time.
Rane was talking to reporters after attending the weekly meeting of experts and doctors from Goa Medical College and Hospital and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS).
The minister said that government leaving “no stone unturned” to ensure that the COVID-19 positive patients are given the best treatment. He said that the treatment given for the patients admitted in government facilities is “one of the best” compared to the other states.
Rane said that the death toll due to COVID-19 infection has touched 200 mark as “patients wait for the last minute to arrive at the hospital, when the infection has already spread.”
“People should not wait for the last minute. They should get the patients during preliminary stage,” he said.
The minister said that 21 doctors and 23 intern doctors, working in the government set up, have tested positive for the infection, while dealing with the patients.
Dean of GMCH Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that the comparative figures indicate that the deaths this year is less compared to the same months last year despite COVID-19 pandemic situation. He said that comorbidity is one of the biggest reason for the deaths.
