I WAS surprised when I recently saw a poster displayed by the Indus Hospital, Dow University Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital that they cannot admit and treat Covid-19 patients because of lack of beds.

It is shocking that these large private hospitals are refusing to accept further coronavirus patients because they have no space. It should be a matter of serious concern for us and the government.

Our government hospitals do not even have primary care for normal patients, leave alone Covid-19 patients. How can we expect them to treat coronavirus patients?

And now we have more coronavirus cases than China once had. China, despite being considered the epicentre of the virus, has now overcome the virus because it followed the preventive measures. Its people listened to government instructions and acted on the advice of doctors.

On the other hand, in Pakistan when the doctors recommended to the government a lockdown and asked the people to stay at home, we did not pay heed and some even called the virus fake.

Now we face the horrible consequences as hospitals have refused to accept more coronavirus patients citing lack of beds as the reason.

We still have time and should take corrective measures. We can stop the virus from spreading further by having a limited lockdown and strictly implementing the standard operating procedures issued by the government.

We must listen to the doctors if we want to save ourselves from this pandemic.

Mujeeb Ali Samo
Larkana

Published in Dawn, June 18th, 2020