Internatonal Epidemiologist, Health Economist Dr. Eric slams Dr. Harsh Vardhan, demands resignation
Dr. Eric was recognized in the media as one of the first to alert public on pandemic risk of COVID
New Delhi: Renowned international Epidemiologist and Health Economist Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding on Thursday evening called for the resignation of India’s Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan over mismanagement.
In a thread of tweets, Dr. Eric called Harsh Vardhan “unfit” to be the Health Minister of India and called for his resignation citing that Jordan’s Health Minister resigned after just seven people died from a shortage of oxygen at hospitals.
India has been under scrutiny with a lack of oxygen supplies across the country mounting deaths of thousands of people amidst a grappling second wave of deadly COVID-19.
Dr. Eric also added that India has been underreporting the deaths due to COVID-19 for several weeks now and that Harsh Vardhan had many chances, to tell the truth, but has continued to dismiss and downplay the truth about what is happening.
He further added that India is projected to hit 1 million deaths due to COVID by August 2021 which he said was a conservative projection based on reported deaths alone. He also hit out at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for mismanagement of COVID-19 and those reporting the realities being implicated criminally in his state and added that Harsh Vardhan’s silence over the issue was “not okay”.
“And India’s #COVID19 humanitarian crisis is not a “domestic issue”—it’s out of control pandemic is endangering whole WORLD by allowing the virus to spread around Earth globe Asia-Australia because of lack of any India containment, and allowing more mutant variants to arise! That’s why I speak out!” he wrote in another tweet.
“Hence, calling for @drharshvardhan to either protect India & the world or to resign is *not* “domestic meddling”. India is a global crisis hotspot and potential incubator of a prolonged pandemic. This is a pandemic damnit! You have direct responsibility. Protect the people” he said in another tweet.
“For those conspiracy theorizing—I’m not paid for any tweeting. Heck, I don’t know a single Indian politician. What I do know is bad public health leadership when I see it. And I’ve called out bad COVID management before”.
About Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding:
Dr. Eric Feigl-Ding is an epidemiologist and health economist and a Senior Fellow at the Federation of American Scientists in Washington DC, and Chief Health Economist for Microclinic International.
He was previously a faculty and researcher at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Chan School of Public Health between 2004-2020, and an epidemiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.
In January 2020, he was recognized in the media as one of the first to alert the public on the pandemic risk of COVID-19. He focuses his efforts on analyzing COVID-19 trends, stops COVID-19 misinformation, advocates for public health, and improve health policy.
Dear Dr @drharshvardhan — you are unfit to be the Health Minister of India ??.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
Please RESIGN. #COVID19India #COVID19 https://t.co/5HZ9EKFNI3
2) meanwhile, in another country like Jordan ??, their health minister resigned after just 7 people died from hospital losing oxygen. https://t.co/16WH9E5sNk
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
3) You’ve had many chances to tell the truth about what is happening. But you @drharshvardhan continue to dismiss and downplay. https://t.co/S7QuVL7sR5
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
4) India has been underreporting deaths for many weeks. https://t.co/32EL6w1npn
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
5) You have had weeks to rectify the mortality reporting.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
Yet you still continue to tout how India has low death rates. That’s no longer scientifically acceptable to hold that stance as a health minister of one of the largest countries, especially a supposed democracy. https://t.co/C9eNTdn6yp
6) Now mortality in India ?? is projected to hit 1 million by August 2021 (a conservative projection based on reported deaths alone, from @IHME_UW)…
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
So downplaying deaths is not okay anymore. Especially when many fold more are dying but likely unreported. https://t.co/SytN3zT19f
7) There are now countless reports of very little oxygen. And many Indian leaders have tried to deny it. And you have said little to nothing to dispel the misinformation. https://t.co/q4AVIwDupH
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
8) For example, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (leader of 231 million-people north India ?? state) is cracking down on people and hospitals that complain about oxygen shortage as “misinfo”. Yet you have not said anything to dispel that. That is abdication of leadership. https://t.co/IB86EQ0IYc
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
9) Then a young man who was trying to save his grandfather’s life begging for oxygen was charged criminally by the UP chief minister, and yet you @drharshvardhan did nothing and said nothing. https://t.co/2sYEU9QOYW
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
10) And India’s #COVID19 humanitarian crisis is not a “domestic issue”—its out of control pandemic is endangering whole WORLD by allowing the virus to spread around ? because of lack of any India containment, and allowing more mutant variants to arise! That’s why I speak out!
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
11) Hence, calling for @drharshvardhan to either protect India & the world or to resign is *not* “domestic meddling”. India?? is a global crisis hotspot and potential incubator of a prolonged pandemic. This is a pandemic damnit! You have direct responsibility. Protect the people.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
12) The Indian variants (#B1617 and #B1618) are also extremely risky and worrisome for the future of the global #COVID19 pandemic. Here is a detailed thread ? why…. ⬇️ https://t.co/zufw63mz3d
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
13) For those conspiracy theorizing—I’m not paid for any tweeting. Heck, I don’t know a single Indian politician. What I do know is bad public health leadership when I see it. And I’ve called out bad COVID management before.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
Example, Mexico??—I’ve scuffled with their COVID czar: https://t.co/k5agLH9HE8
14) India’s Ministry of Health @MoHFW_INDIA should have also vaccinated all healthcare workers. This tragedy should not have happened. https://t.co/z0uEIvgdzD
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
15) How many infections are there likely currently in India ?? per day? Likely **13-14 million new cases per day** says renowned epidemiology institute @IHME_UW.
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) April 29, 2021
How many cases officially confirmed? 379k.https://t.co/FWjmQFJEUG pic.twitter.com/R0Erceq9aQ
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UP: Govt hospital staff booked for sexually assaulting woman in pretext of ultrasound test
Gorakhpur (PTI): A hospital employee was booked for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in the pretext of an ultrasound test here in the district women's hospital, police said on Saturday.
According to the complaint, the woman, a resident of the Gulriha area, visited the district women's hospital on Thursday morning for an ultrasound test.
She was directed to a room, where Abhimanyu Gupta was conducting ultrasounds. When her turn came, the accused allegedly stared at her and told her to remove all her clothes, claiming it was necessary for the test and that a massage would also be required, she said.
ALSO READ: UP: Girl kidnapped, raped multiple times over 25 days; accused held
The woman alleged that once she complied, the accused began making obscene advances and tried to force himself on her. When she screamed, he allegedly gagged her, abused her and threatened to kill her before pushing her out of the room.
She said her complaints within the hospital went unheard, forcing her to approach the police.
Taking cognisance of the complaint, the hospital administration constituted a three-member inquiry committee, officials said.
Senior consultant (paediatrics) Dr Jay Kumar said, "The woman has levelled serious allegations against a staff member. Senior officials have been informed, and a departmental inquiry is underway. Strict action will be taken if the charges are proved."
Kotwali Station House Officer Chatrapal Singh said a case has been registered, and efforts are on to nab the accused.
