In order to handle the surge in covid patients and to reduce the burden of the government hospitals in city treating the covid patience, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) sent a letter to 12 hospitals asking them to get ready to run Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) to treat coronavirus patients. According to the letter the 12 hospitals have to submit the report of their readiness within 24 hours.
The hospitals that were sent letters include Seven Star Hospital, Great Nag Road; Radhakrishna Hospital, Wardhman Nagar; Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, Sitabuldi; Bhavani Multispeciality Hospital, Punapur, Pardi; Ganga Care Hospital, Ramdaspeth; Kunal Hospital, Mankapur; VIMS Hospital, Mohan Nagar; Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI), Alexis Hospital, Wockhardt Hospital.
The letter says, “The number of coronavirus patients in city are on rise. The deaths too are increasing. At present only three hospitals including Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) along with recent addition Wockhardt Hospital, Gandhinagar are treating coronavirus patients of all three types – mild, moderate and severe. With a view to reduce the load on Government hospitals, Divisional Commissioner Dr Sanjeev Kumar has started COVID Care Centre at MLA hostel for treating mild cases. That number, too, has gone up. Considering that aspect, NMC has issued a notice in which it said as per the three-phase structure of Government about hospitals, these 12 hospitals have been asked to keep ready as a Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH)â€.
Responding to the letter, Chairman of Orange City Hospital and Research Institute Uday Bhaskar Nair has expressed anguish over this sudden 11th hour notice.“In the wake of coronavirus outbreak, it is the duty of everybody to respond to the administration. We have no problem in serving in that context. But we have not given enough time to prepare ourselves. Preparing COVID-19 treatment facilities is not an easy task. It is a pandemic and every minute thing is to be well taken care of. I want to bring it to the notice of NMC authorities,†pointed out Nair.
Meanwhile, Vidarbha Hospitals Association (VHA) seeks time considering the present admitted non-Covid patients to be shifted and lother ogistics arrangements.
In a meeting with VHA and Indian Medical Association (IMA) representatives held on Saturday, Divisional Commissioner in presence of District Collector and Municipal Commissioner has asked them to form a committee and suggest feasible uniform slab rates on no profit on loss basis so that unvarying rates are applicable across the city unlike other cities of Maharashtra where it is noticed that private hospitals are charging over and above the government fixed rate so as to cover up the costs creating unwanted disharmony.
Likewise, Antigen testing should be initiated in all laboratories, private hospitals and clinics wherein DDHS will arrange for stall of Antigen kits in IMA wherein all interested clinicians, hospitals and laboratories can procure them at cost ranging from Rs.500- 525 per kit. The charges fixed for said testing is Rs.700/- per test.
Likewise, Divisional Commissioner also desired that all asymptomatic and mildly asymptomatic Covid patients will be now transferred from all government hospitals to Covid Care Centers being developed in MLA Hostel and other areas so that beds in hospitals will only be utilized as Dedicated Covid hospitals treating severe patients.
Accordingly, he sought cooperation from private practioners through IMA and VHA to come forward for tying up with private hotels to commence private Covid Care centers wherein asymptomatic and mild asymptomatic Covid patients can take admission apart from Government CCC being developed. This step will reduce the burden on GMC/IGGMC/ Private medical colleges/ Hospital built on government land / Central Government Hospitals and NMC Hospitals who will only treat severe patients.