Maharashtra govt mulls insurance for staff treating coronavirus patients

Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Friday said state government is considering to provide insurance cover to medical staff treating COVID-19 patients in state.

In a Facebook live, Tope said apart from insurance cover, government also plans to give monetary incentive to staff.

"se medical workers have risked ir lives to treat patients," he said.

Tope appealed to private doctors, who have stopped ir medical practice due to coronavirus scare, to remain operational for treatment of people.

"OPD, emergency medical services have been stopped... This is t right. re are or illnesses apart from COVID-19. Where will people go for deliveries or if someone suffers a heart attack?" he asked.

Medicine is a ble profession and doctors should t stop ir medical practice, he said. "Don't show insensitivity in times of crisis," Tope told private medical practitioners.

He said number of coronavirus positive patients in state is w 135. "A total of 4,228 people were tested, of whom reports of 4,017 patients tested negative. So far, 19 patients have been discharged," he ded.

Tope said as international flights have been suspended, spre of coronavirus from such travellers has stopped.

"w, spre from positive patients needs to be tackled," he said. " focus is w on three Ts - tracing, testing and treatment," Tope said.

He also appealed to people to donate blood. "Blood supply is required t just for coronavirus patients, but also to people with or illnesses," he said.