Lack of trained staff puts question mark on setting up Covid centres at sugar mills

“The state government was supposed to provide doctors and other staff but due to shortage of such staff, the centres are not functioning at their full capacity,” said an official.

Citing the example of these mills, other millers said while they were ready to provide the infrastructure, they did not have the means to provide trained staff to run the hospitals.

“There is acute shortage of doctors, nurses and even paramedics in urban and rural areas. So, how can the government expect us to run the centres?” asked a sugar miller from Osmanabad district.

By virtue of their location in rural areas, sugar mills normally play important roles in the fight against Covid-19. Thus, the idea behind asking mills to set up dedicated Covid care centres was to utilise the space and infrastructure available to address the spread of the virus in rural areas.

Dr Sadhana Tayade, state director of health, said each district had been directed to sanction their own Covid action plan. Collectors of each district have been authorised to appoint medical personnel.

“At our level, we are also sending bonded medical candidates to concerned circles where there is a requirement,” said Dr Tayade. She added that as part of efforts to get more doctors, they had also issued orders to 90 such medical personnel absent from duty.

State health officials said there were several instances where, over the years, medical officers appointed at health facilities in rural areas have not been on duty. “They have been chronically absent,” said Dr Tayade, adding that 90 such orders have been issued and 80 have joined.

District administrations have been asked to engage medical associations and encourage them to send their doctors to rural areas. “We have requested Indian Medical Association’s district-level branches to get connected with the district administration and help in Covid duty,” said Dr Tayade.

Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad told The Indian Express that he will revise his earlier order. “We will be asking sugar mills to tie up with local hospitals in the area. The new guidelines will be issued before the start of the October 15 crushing season,” he said.