Row over charges for post-COVID treatment
The Hindu
Govt. had earlier stated that COVID care will be free of cost
Thiruvananthapuram A government order (GO) issued on August 16 fixing treatment package rates for post-COVID complications for APL (above poverty line) patients in government and private hospitals has kicked up a controversy. The government had earlier stated that COVID care will be free of cost for all in government hospitals. Public health experts said that as COVID cases and long-term COVID-related complications suffered by those who survived the disease continued to go up, the government imposing charges for treatment of such conditions even in public sector hospitals would increase the health expenditure and impoverish people.After completing her Class XII a few years ago, Lakshmi Priya from Sivakasi faced financial constraints that prevented her from pursuing higher education. Despite her circumstances, she persevered by folding matchboxes to earn a meagre income. “I have always done this work – folding matchboxes. Many families in Sivakasi and surrounding areas do this work, from home,” said Ms.Priya who is now 19 years old. “I always wanted to learn something related to Computer Science. We did not have a proper teacher for this particular subject at school. But I managed to score 95%,” she said.
Ahead of the southwest monsoon, the officials from multiple departments were directed to carry out the standard operating procedure and ensure that all the parameters were adhered to as per the guidelines issued by the Disaster Management Plan of the Tamil Nadu government, said Theni Collector R.V. Shajeevana here on Friday.