A group of 47 doctors have written a letter to the Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana, requesting him to nationalize all the hospitals in the country. In the letter, they stated that the Government of India and the State Governments have failed to overcome the second wave of coronavirus in the country, as a result of which Covid cases have increased exponentially. They also stated that one of the main reasons for the second wave is due to the various elections conducted by the Election Commission in several states of the country, without paying attention to the health of the people. They said that the governments organized large-scale religious activities in the country even before the first wave of Covid-19 could be brought under total control.
In the letter, they also highlighted that the governments of the country do not have a basic programme of staff recruitment, oxygen supply, bed enhancement and access to medicine despite the rapid spreading of the virus in the country. They also noted that the governments completely failed to prepare for the second wave, despite the constant speculation of a second wave. They brought to notice that India has recorded 2 lakh cases every day since April 15, and recorded the highest number of cases in the world on April 27, at 3,60,960 cases. On May 4, India crossed the milestone of 20 crore cases.
The letter also highlighted the severe shortage of vaccines in the country, and how the people are suffering because of it. It stated that the government is not doing enough to make sure that everyone gets both the doses of vaccine, and noted that some people are only getting one shot, and are not getting the second shot on time.
They expressed that the governments are not doing enough to control the spread of the virus, and pointed out that statistics show that the medical staff are not good enough, which is making it difficult to treat patients. They also stated that the main reason for the crisis of coronavirus turning out to be so bad is because of the failure of the governments. They stated that good medical staff should immediately be recruited. They criticised how various representatives of governments in the positions of MP, MLA and Ministers are propagating non-medical ideologies for the treatment of coronavirus.
The letter also highlights Article 51A(h) of our Constitution, which states that it is a duty to develop a scientific perspective in every citizen. The scientific perspective helps to develop the spirit of secularism, humanism, inquiry and reform. Accordingly, those who propagate unscientific ideas should be punished according to the law. According to this law, the doctors have appealed to the federal government and the state government to intervene in this matter and take steps to meet the requirements mentioned as follows:
1. That this crisis should be treated as a human disaster.
2. That all hospitals should be nationalized on the basis of war.
3. That corporate mafia should be curbed.
4. A thousand-bed hospital should be constructed for each zone.
5. Ambulance services should be continued at government expenses.
6. Full recruitment of medical staff should be carried out.
7. Free treatment should be provided to those suffering from coronavirus and other illnesses.
8. All citizens should be vaccinated free of cost.
9. Covid-19 examination centres and vaccine centres should be located at different places.
10. The Central and State Governments should buy enough vaccines for the people of the country.
11. Those doing black marketing should be punished according to the law.
12. Control the second wave of Covid-19 and make scientific decisions so that the country is not plagued by a third wave.
13. At least ten per cent of the Union Government’s budget should be allocated to the medical and health sectors. Funds specifically allocated for disasters such as the covid pandemic should be released immediately.