Opening OPDs need of the hour, but caution a must

As Covid cases have come down, should govt hospitals start OPDs and elective surgeries ?

It’s been more than a year that OPDs are non-functional, making the condition worrisome for many non-infected patients. The upsurge of pandemic can’t be ignored, but effective measures can make OPD services available.

Harnoor Kaur, Kharar

Gear up for elective surgeries

Residents suffered tremendously as many patients of cardiology, nephrology, or of other serious ailments could not get their surgeries done during the second Covid wave. All hospitals should resume surgeries suspended with strict standard operating procedures in place. The hospital should allow only one attendant per patient at the hospital.

SK Khosla

OPDs are ‘Right to LIFE’

Interaction through OPDs helps in creating efficient working relationship that is real, reliable and robust besides an effective doctor–patient relationship involving both parties. OPD interaction promotes good outcomes by creating an empowered, engaged, and active partnership with patients who feel heard and accurately understood by their doctors. The onus on government hospitals increases manifold keeping in mind the aspect of ‘Right to Life’ and ‘social security’ guaranteed by the Constitution of India, especially when a majority of the patients are from poor and illiterate background.

Pushpa Kewal, Karnal (Haryana)

Hospitals ray of hope

In the present demographic profile of our society, government hospitals serve as a ray of hope for life for a big chunk of population. It is high time for government hospitals to get a nod for starting elective surgeries.

Dr Bharat

Focus on emergency healthcare

The pandemic has affected the working of outpatient department treatment. As cases have dropped, hospitals should adopt data intelligence to prioritise patients in dire need of healthcare. The delay in opening of OPDs may further lead to healthcare complications or resulting in another catastrophe. Only emergency services should be dealt on a priority basis and other medical services could be provided through telecommunication.

Charu Malhotra, Mohali

Common man hit hard

With doctors and staff busy in Covid care and cure, OPDs shut and elective/pre-planned surgeries suspended, the common man was hit hard. Tele-consultation is not everyone’s cup of tea and there can be no easy substitute for doctor-patient direct interaction. The GMSH-16 and GMCH-32 have resumed two-three elective surgeries per day and the number will increase in the due course. The PGIMER is mulling following the suit. Covid is not leaving us anytime soon and universal vaccination is a distant dream. The recent decline in cases is the result of forced regulations and SOPs. Laxity and complacency in letting down our guard will only invite reimposition of curbs and closures.

Lalit Bharadwaj

Start OPDs sans delay

There is no denying the fact that the Covid cases have gone down drastically in Chandigarh and elsewhere in the country. In view of the improved situation, the city government hospitals should start the OPDs and elective surgeries for the patients not affected by the Covid. Moving pictures of the wanton neglect of the patients with serious ailments reveal how much they have suffered during the virus-induced lockdowns with the government-run hospitals discontinuing OPDs. Many of them had even died due to the unavailability of OPDs. Equally imperative for these hospitals is to ensure that the Covid protocols are not allowed to be violated at any cost, to keep a check on much talked about third wave of the pandemic, touted to be the most dangerous, if reports/ advisories and alerts from governments and experts are to be believed, we cannot afford to lower our guard at any point in time.

Ramesh K Dhiman, Chandigarh

The poor are suffering

With the decline in Covid cases, the hospitals should start OPDs and other suspended procedures as the poor citizens are suffering for want of free treatment at government hospitals. Early restoration of facilities will improve the general health of people suffering from chronic as well as acute problems

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

Allow limited appointments

Now is the right time to start surgeries and OPDs for patients. The government should allow limited online/offline appointment to avoid rush.

Avinash goyal, Chandigarh

Several lives lost

Many families that could not afford expensive treatment in private hospitals have lost their dear ones due to the non-availability of medical treatment during the pandemic. This should be an eye-opener for the government for future medical crises. If not all, at least bare minimum OPD facilities and critical operations should be made available in government hospitals for patients.

Dr Anil Kumar Yadav

Allay the fears of patients

The government should also first strive to allay the fears of non-Covid patients, who need medical attention, but who dread going to hospitals, because they fear getting infected with Covid. Online mode of consultation with the doctor should still be the preferred mode in cases that are not severe.

Simran Sidhu, Chandigarh

Can’t ignore chances of Covid resurge

Government hospitals should not start OPDs and elective surgeries for patients because if we ignore the covid cases, we may soon be affected with another mutant.

Adish Sood, Amloh

Continue online consultation

Pandemic has wreaked havoc on the lives of non-Covid patients as healthcare system remains inaccessible with physical OPDs shut. Video-conferencing and telecommunication routine should be continued as of now because the spread of transmission should be put to an end once and for all. We need to learn from our previous mistakes as nation cannot afford another lockdown.

Garv bhupesh, Panchkula

Patients with deadly diseases ignored

Those with diseases such as HIV and cancer have been denied the access to hospitals. They are facing quite a bit of hardship with most OPDs and operation theatres closed. Now, keeping in view the decline in Covid positive cases across the country, the hospitals should ramp up their activities towards restarting OPDs and elective surgeries for which many patients are in queue as they were asked to be on hold due to Covid operations in almost all government and private hospitals. The government and managements of private hospitals should ensure that the staff and specialist doctors are resourced for OPDs and surgeries.

Sanjay Chopra

Distance Covid facilities from others

It is high time that non-Covid OPDs are made functional, along with selective surgeries. For more than a year, people have been devoid of medical care. Non-Covid treatment areas or hospitals should distance themselves from Covid treatment centres and if possible, staff and doctors of Covid and non-Covid OPDs should be segregated.

Bubby Soin

Serious cases being neglected

Patients with chronic disease and those who need immediate attention such as chemotherapy, dialysis and surgeries are being neglected and forced to bear pain. Now, as vaccination is available and health being the topmost priority for any individual, government should open hospitals.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Restore services in A phased manner

As Covid cases are decreasing, it is high time that all OPDs and elective surgeries should be restored in a phased manner to relieve many patients suffering from other diseases. All precautions and preparedness for the probable Covid third wave should be kept in mind.

Suresh Verma

Vaccinate all staff

Yes, the government must start the OPDs as soon as possible. Many people are dying of diseases other than Covid. The government must make sure that the hospital staff and doctors are fully vaccinated. Covid preventive and safety guidelines should strictly be followed. The elective surgeries can be postponed and only essential surgeries should be done.

Antra Rakheja, Chandigarh

Opening OPDs a must

Many people can only afford treatment in civil hospitals. As the Covid cases are dropping, the opening of OPDs should be a must. This will ensure that the poor are diagnosed with the disease on time and can be cured accordingly.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Doctors’ safety important

Elective surgeries and OPDs should be started but with utmost precautions and there should be pre-registration to avoid untoward rush and priority should be given to more deserving patients with other ailments. Utmost safety of the doctors is required as the country is bracing for the third wave. Any error in their safety will lead to lack of doctors in future as we have already lost many doctors in the last two waves.

Dr Hemant agnihotri

Open OPDs at the earliest

Now when the pandemic is showing a little downward trend and relaxations are being extended for opening of markets, malls and restaurants, OPDs at government hospitals should be opened invariably at the earliest. This is very urgent and need of the hour. Doctors at many of the private hospitals cannot have the same expertise as that of doctors at the PGI and other government hospitals.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

OPDs a relief

Many of those suffering from other diseases are unable to get proper treatment due to the closure of general OPDs. General OPDs and elective surgeries should be started in order to relieve other patients suffering from other severe diseases.

Gurleen Kaur

Special desks for the elderly

People above 60 years need immediate attention. They must be given a respite to their remote telephonic prescription mode and oral checkups. Covid turbulence has subsided now and round-the-clock efforts are needed through special desks of senior and junior doctors to address health grievances of the grey population.

Rajpartap Singh, Chandigarh

Surgeries a risky affair

No doubt cases are going down in Chandigarh but we still have a long way to go. OPDs shall be resumed but elective surgeries are still a little risky for the time being as it will put people who are not infected at a risk. People shall get vaccinated and play their part in this fight. Careless attitude of people will lead to nothing but spreading this deadly virus causing danger to the doctors and other patients.

Dhanika Single, Chandigarh

Patients have suffered

With a gradual decline in Covid cases over the past few days, it shall be in the fitness of things to open OPDs and elective surgeries in government hospitals. This is also important in view of the fact that a lot of patients with chronic ailments such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, who require regular check up, have suffered due to the closure of OPDs. Ensure that strict observance of Covid appropriate behaviour is practised.

Dr Dinesh Kumar Verma, Panchkula.

Put a cap on visitors

As the Covid cases are dropping on a daily basis, OPDs at all government hospitals, including the PGI, must be opened with only limited visitors allowed each day. For the sake of humanity, authorities must consider partial functioning of OPDs.

Harsimran Singh Thuha

OPDs risky, start surgeries

The second wave of covid 19 has taken an unprecedented toll on human lives and the third wave is impending. It seems people have not learnt any lesson from the catastrophic potential of the virus. People can be seen violating covid protocols with impunity during gradual relaxations even during the lockdown. Under such circumstances, opening OPDs will pose a risk. However, elective surgeries cannot be kept pending for long and can be started on the pattern of private hospitals involving high-priority non-Covid patients after RT-PCR, HRCT-chest scans are done.

Sunil Khanna

Avoid routine OPD visits

Teleconsultation is the best way to support patients. Though services must be resumed with proper precautionary measures, routine visits to OPDs must be avoided.

Anita K Tandon, Kharar

Situation conducive to surgeries

Due to the closure of OPDs, especially at government hospitals, the poor had to suffer a lot. They cannot afford to pay private doctors due to the exorbitant fee charged by them. Also, patients in need of the surgeries must be operated upon now as the conditions are conducive to those who are not infected by Covid-19. Medical emergency cases too need to be dealt with at the earliest to save the precious lives as we have already lost many to the pandemic. Hope the Administration will soon initiate these services.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi

Caution in the key

When the worst of the second Covid wave is now behind us, healthcare for patients as well as surgeries need to be given a priority. OPDs need to be opened, but in doing so, the hospital staff must ensure that Covid protocol is strictly followed by all.

SC Luthra

Poor need govt hospitals

With coronavirus cases declining in the city, some private hospitals here are seeing an increase in non-Covid patients returning to medical facilities and conducting elective surgeries that were put on hold. It is important to start elective surgeries and routine work at government hospitals because the cases are going to pile up. Government hospitals provide low cost treatment to the poor so they must be opened for all.

Vijay Malia Chandigarh

Worsening health conditions

Senior citizens are more likely to have chronic health problems. Due to the closure of OPDs, condition of many patients has worsened. OPD services for non-Covid patients should have been run at least once a week. Though telephonic appointments are available, most of the patients prefer physical consultation. With the decline in Covid cases, the tricity administration should allow resumption of OPD services.

Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd)

Immediate medical attention sought

The Covid-19 caseload is on the decline for last one month. The city hospitals must take up elective surgeries and start OPD services for patients. However, due caution should be maintained. Patients with serious ailments like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, need immediate medical attention.

Wg Cdr Jasbir Singh Minhas (retd)

Loot by pvt hospitals

The poor and middle class have suffered a lot during this pandemic. It is the need of the hour to start OPDs and elective surgeries without further loss of time. This will provide some relief to common man in general as private hospitals are looting the public.

AK Jindal, Patiala

QUESTION

What steps should the UT Administration take to prevent a third wave of Covid from hitting the City Beautiful?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com