The administrative court of Fort-de-France rejected the request of several unions and associations of Martinique aiming in particular to order the health and medical authorities to implement a systematic screening of Covid-19 and to carry out massive orders of chloroquine.
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The decision came on Wednesday when in Guadeloupe, the UGTG union obtained on March 26 from the Administrative Court of Basse-Terre that it ordered the CHU and the ARS of Guadeloupe to order " in sufficient numbers " screening tests and doses of treatment with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin.
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In the aftermath, in Martinique unions and associations had assigned Monday the prefect, the CHU and the ARS of the island, as part of an interim liberty, to obtain the establishment of a systematic screening. They also called for " the order of massive doses of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin for the treatment of 200,000 patients, the provision of protective equipment (masks and hydroalcoholic gel) for the entire population exposed to the public, communication personal information about people with Covid-19, the endowment of 500 respirators, "according to a court statement.
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On the question of generalized screening, the court recalled that screening tests "are only intended to be carried out with a view to breaking out of confinement " and considered that the ARS had already done what was necessary since tests were carried out been ordered.
Regarding hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, stocks are " sufficient " in Martinique for " strictly supervised use " which must be done since these products should only be used for " the most serious cases ", according to the court . He also considered that restricting the use of masks to medical staff only was " justified by the limited number of stocks available ". A cargo arrived on March 31 by air.
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Nor is there any question for the magistrates of authorizing the dissemination of information on people with Covid-19. This " would infringe medical confidentiality " and " would be of no useful nature in the fight against the spread of the virus ". Finally, when ordering 500 respirators, the court noted " that the occupancy rate of this equipment is still low to this day ". He also recalls that orders for additional respirators have been placed by the ARS and underlines the imminent arrival " in the Antilles-Guyana area, of the Diksmuide helicopter carrier, provided with beds and medical equipment ".
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