With the Covid-19 cases mounting bythe day, the Goa government has yet notgot its act together in dealing with theraging pandemic. The politicians shouldhave laid their hands off and left it to theexperts to chart the road ahead.There are increasing complaints aboutlack of proper facilities and the patheticstate of the Covid hospitals and carecenters. Every Covid patient needs to begetting the best possible care and attention.The poorest of the poor is entitled toget all the due medical assistance even ifit has to
be at the private hospitals. Freeand specialized treatment cannot be theprivilege of just the politicians and that tooat tax-payers expense. That the authoritiesfailed to plan a proper strategy overthe last few months and are now runninghelter-skelter with no vision is condemnable.Chief Minister and the Health Ministershould be in the frontline while dealingwith the pandemic which has now sadly nationreacheda point of crisis. They should themselvesregularly visit the Covid hospitalsand care centers to see for themselves thesordid plight of the patients. The abundantfunds earmarked for dealing with Covid-19must be judiciously and scrupulously utilizedto ensure that every patient gets thedue medical care. There should be no roomor devious attempt to pocket this money. Itwould be an unpardonable crime.AIRES RODRIGUES, Ribandar
