Nearly two months after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister was hospitalised in Chennai, Apollo Hospital Chairman, Pratap Reddy on Friday said, “Some more systems of her body have to be pepped up.”
Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Pratap Reddy said that Jayalalithaa can guide and direct now and her mental functions are “absolutely normal”. He also said that she was still using a tracheostomy tube and added, “She is on ventilator just for 15 minutes so her lungs would expand.”
"We have brought her out of the serious problem. She can go anytime she wants. Mental functions are fine and so I can't say I want to do something and she will keep quiet," he said.
Reddy added that the tracheostomy tube was still being used, though it was deflated. "It is used for 15 minutes a day, otherwise she lives beautifully without a ventilator. We have kept it so that the lungs do not collapse."
He also noted that the AIADMK supremo was on a high protein diet as required by her body condition.
When asked whether asked she can resume her duties as CM he said, "I suppose she can do that even now, but I can assure her mental functions are fine."
Despite rumours of the CM’s discharge, Reddy said she could leave the hospital at any time, and could not dictate her on her discharge. He, however, pointed out, “She has a passion for work and she will get back as soon as possible.”
The Apollo Hospital Chairman had last week stated that Jayalalithaa needed to reinvigorate herself.
On November 4, Pratap Reddy had said that that the Chief Minister has completely recovered and "understands what is going on around her." He also added that she asks and demands what she wants and said, "it won't be too long before she sees all of you."
In its last medical bulletin issued on October 21, Apollo Hospitals had said Jayalalithaa "is interacting (with people) and progressing gradually".
The 68-year-old was admitted to the Apollo Hospitals with fever and dehydration on September 22.
Doctors later said she needed a longer stay at the hospital as she had infection and was put on respiratory support.
According to Apollo, a team of specialists like cardiologists, respiratory physicians, consultants for infectious diseases, diabetologist and endocrinologist was treating Jayalalithaa.
Jayalalithaa’s illness has been a closely guarded secret with both the party and Apollo hospital releasing little information.
Though news reports a few weeks ago claimed that she had been shifted to a room from the Critical Care Unit, Reddy’s comments on Friday made it clear that she was on the ventilator, even if for a few minutes.
DMK chief M Karunanidhi had also raised doubts over whether Jayalalithaa had really been shifted to a room.