Covid-19 patients wait for beds in government hospitals; rise in patients worries health machinery

Aurangabad, March 19:

The number of active Covid-19 patients has crossed the figure of 8,000 in the district. As a result, the shortage of medical infrastructure has emerged badly. As a result, the Coronavirus infected patients are forced to wait for hours at a stretch till the beds are not vacated by previous patients. The rush of patients standing in long queues on campuses of the Covid Care Centres (CCCs) of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and District Civil Hospital was spotted on Friday.

Meanwhile, the health machinery is also facing a new problem as many asymptomatic patients, in fear of the virus, are insisting on admitting them. It may be noted as per the process, the bed is allotted to a patient after he is tested as positive. Presently, the patients are waiting impatiently for beds, while some of them are trying to use their influence in seeking admission at the CCC of their choice.

At GMCH, the patients are admitted to the casualty ward and then shifted to the medicine ward or super-speciality block. However, till then, the patients and others had to wait for four or more hours. The AMC and GMCH are trying to increase the beds. Meanwhile, the administration is now planning to set priority in admission as the asymptomatic patients are insisting the hospitals give them admissions.

The municipal officer of health (MoH), Dr Neeta Padalkar, said, " We have introduced a Home Isolation facility for patients who are asymptomatic. The persons, who are asymptomatic and are suffering from comorbidity, should not insist on admission to the CCC but should opt for home isolation and get the treatment at home. The CCC should be approached only if there is any inconvenience. The preference is admission at CCC has to be given to patients who are in need of oxygen, having symptoms and need treatment under observation."