Curfew puts patients at risk: DAK

Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 17: As curfew continues unabated for last one week in the Valley, Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today said the strict restriction on movement is putting patients at risk.
The DAK president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said one of the critical fallouts of the lock-down has been the sufferings of patients. “Many patients are running out of medicines and they are not being allowed to venture out. Patients surviving on life saving drugs are at a higher risk and are in a fix wherefrom to get medicines as all medical shops are closed,” he said.
He said those with diabetes need insulin every day which is a must for their survival. “For optimizing the dose, they need frequent monitoring of blood sugar which they can’t as labs are closed. The anti-hypertension drugs have to be taken regularly and without them blood pressure can shoot up which can be fatal,” he said.
The DAK president said regular intake of Aspirin is essential to prevent heart attack- and warfarin, a blood thinning medicine, is vital to protect patient with irregular heart rhythm from stroke. “Missing a single dose of life saving drug means death of those who are surviving on them. If any of these patients develop complication he/she needs the drug immediately, otherwise it means death,” he said.
He said the attendants of hospitalized patients are not able to buy medicines, which are not available with the hospitals, since pharmacies are closed. “Patients who need hospitalization prefer to stay back as they are not allowed to move out of their homes. There is no emergency dialing system and all communication facilities have been snapped,” the DAK.