Covid-19 Spread in Bihar: CPIML Demands Sacking of State Health Minister

CPIML Bihar State Secretary Kunal said on 21 July 2020 that the rapid spread of Corona across Bihar is a matter of grave concern, and the BJP-JDU is fully responsible for this as they are busy playing election games instead of improving the health care system in Bihar.

People are dying untimely deaths in the State. Even after 6 months of the Corona crisis, the government has taken no effective steps for testing, treatment, employment, livelihood, or any other issue important for the people. The people of Bihar have been left to their fate.

What can be a matter of greater shame than the death of Deputy Home Secretary Umesh Rajak, who was forced to run from pillar to post between IGIMS, NMCH and AIIMS, seeking medical care in vain? It is not difficult to imagine what the condition of the common man or woman will be if they fall sick! Only recently, Virendra Prasad from Piro, standing in the long Corona testing queue in Ara, fell down and died on the spot, writhing in distress.

Bihar’s testing rate is lowest among 19 States in the country. After much criticism it was announced that arrangements would be made for testing at sub-divisional hospitals. The government is also talking about extending this to primary health centers. Government must implement what they have announced; otherwise this will remain just another empty promise. Arrangements for proper primary medical treatment at all primary health centers are also another need of the hour.

Seeing the rapid spread of Covid, it is necessary that better treatment and ICU beds are arranged at all sub-divisional and District hospitals. Similarly, a huge increase in the number of ICU beds at Medical Colleges is essential.

Treatment for Covid at private hospitals has also been announced, but the patients have to bear the cost for this. This is an extremely unjust decision. The need of the hour is for the government to take private hospitals under its control and make arrangements for Corona treatment for which the government will bear the costs.

The government does not lag behind in making announcements. But there is an enormous amount of loot going on in the name of Corona. The distribution of masks, soap and sanitizer among the people is nowhere to be seen, despite announcements. On the contrary, instead of free disbursement 18% GST has been imposed on sanitizers. Similarly, instead of free disbursement of masks people not wearing masks are being fined. Instead of collecting money from capitalists the government is busy picking the pockets of the already burdened and hapless common people.

The re-imposed Lockdown has further escalated the distress of the common people already struggling for life and livelihood. Heavy rains have badly affected lakhs of people in various Districts. People have gathered in large numbers at dams and other places to save their lives, thus increasing the danger of Corona infection among the flood affected people.

Apart from the short period of the Mahagathbandhan government, the Health Department has been with the BJP for the past 15 years. Today the Union Health Minister is also from Bihar. Despite this the health care system in Bihar is in shambles. It is useless to hope for any improvement without removing the incompetent Health Minister of Bihar Mangal Pandey.

Under these circumstances the CPIML has decided to demand for the sacking of the incompetent and killer Health Minister Mangal Pandey will be raised through protests across the State of Bihar.