The police have also cautioned people against cyber criminals, who may dupe people on the pretext of helping them get vaccinated (Representative image)
BHUBANESWAR: Amid the growing demand for hospital beds and oxygen as Covid-19 cases continue to rise alarmingly, the Odisha Police on Friday directed police stations to prevent the needy from falling prey to middlemen in such trying times.
The police have come across a few instances where the relatives of critical Covid patients have had to pay exorbitant charges to middlemen to avail themselves of ambulances and hospital beds with oxygen facilities. The commissionerate police has been specifically asked to remain more vigilant in Bhubaneswar, which has seen a sharp rise in the demand for hospital beds, oxygen and ventilators.
Oxygen tankers on way from Odisha to Faridabad in Haryana
BHUBANESWAR: The government on Friday formed an expert committee of three senior doctors of SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack, to take a decision on use of Tocilizumab for Covid patients on a case-to-case basis.
Originally, a rheumatoid arthritis drug, Tocilizumab is used in moderate to severe Covid cases so that the patient’s condition doesn’t worsen further. Bidyut Das, professor of rheumatology, will head the panel. The other two members are professor of pulmonary medicine Jyoti Pattanaik and associate professor of medicine PK Thatoi.
“When any prescription is made for a patient in a Covid facility with newer, restricted available drug, the prescription shall come as a proposal to seek opinion regarding the judicious use of the drug. Such proposal shall be sent to the chairman of the committee with an intimation to director medical education and training and MD of Odisha State Medical Corporation in Whats