Don't admit any patient for isolation, Chandigarh hospitals told
Chandigarh, January 15
As Covid-19 cases are on the rise in the city, the UT Administration has issued directions to hospitals not to admit any patient for the purpose of isolation and beds should be reserved for sick patients only.
UT Health Secretary Yashpal Garg said: “A decision regarding the admission of a Covid patient to a health facility needs to be taken purely on medical reasons by the doctor concerned. Any Covid patient should not be admitted to the hospital facility for the purpose of isolation.”
As per the SOP, all asymptomatic Covid patients will be allowed to stay in home quarantine as the first option. In case isolation facility (separate ventilated washroom) is not available at the home of the asymptomatic Covid patient, the patient will be admitted to an institutional quarantine facility.
Only those Covid patients will be admitted to the hospital where the doctor concerned has advised for medical reasons such as need for constant medical care with or without oxygen/ventilator support.
The decision was taken at a review meeting of senior officers of the UT Administration, GMCH-32, Directorate of Health Services and the PGI.
Control room set up
A 24X7 control room has been set up at the GMSH-16. A helpline number – 1075 – has also been released for Covid-related issues. City residents can call on the helpline number anytime regarding vaccination, medical oxygen, home isolation and ambulance.
The protocol suggests that the rapid response team will immediately make audio or video calls before sending a team there. However, in case of an emergency, the team has been asked to rush without losing any time.
“Considering that 98 per cent of the Covid patients are in home isolation, rapid response teams will make calls to all infected persons and a minimum of 10 per cent of these should be video calls to instil more confidence in patients,” said Garg.
Rates to be displayed in hospitals
The Director of Health Services has been asked to ensure that the maximum charges fixed by the UT Administration are displayed by private hospitals and laboratories on their premises.
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