Private hospitals to start treating Covid-19 patients

As covid-19 patients continue to increase in the country, private hospitals on Thursday geared up to tackle the unfolding health crisis.

Some of the private hospitals were already preparing to handle the patient burden by creating isolation wards.

Several noted hospitals across the country said that they now are ready for treatment of the novel coronavirus patients after mock drills and dry run for the specialised treatment. Max Healthcare, one India’s largest chain of private healthcare network on Thursday said that it will begin admissions of Covid-19 patients starting Friday.

The treatment will be made available in specially designated isolation wards of their hospitals – East block of Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket and Max Super Speciality Hospital, Patparganj. Apart from this, the diagnostic facility of hospital-- Max Labs-- will also begin testing for COVID-19 for samples collected from four units across Delhi-NCR. However, the testing samples will be collected at selective Max Hospitals – Saket, Gurgaon and Patparganj.

“With this initiative we aim to lend a helping hand to the government in fighting against this colossal pandemic by admitting Covid-19 positive patients at two hospitals across our network for treatment. We hope this will help the country as a whole tackle the disease more efficiently,” Dr Sandeep Budhiraja, Group Medical Director – Max Healthcare said.

Similarly, BLK Super Specialty Hospital in the national capital also announced the commencement of the covid-19 treatment in the medical institution. “The treatment will be available in specially designated isolation wards of their hospital,” the hospital said in an official statement. The officials said it braced up for the treatment with isolation beds, adequate supply of personal protective gear, ventilators and trained staff to support any complex positive cases.

“While, the ongoing situation has created fear and panic among masses on one hand, it has exerted tremendous pressure on healthcare professionals,” Sanjay Mehta, Unit Head and VP, BLK Super Speciality Hospital said adding that the hospital has already streamlined numerous processes such as isolated designated areas, for first level screening process of patients suspected of having the virus.

“This is a challenging phase for not only the country but the whole of humanity. We will keep adding bed/wards in case there is a surge in the number of COVID-19 positive patients,” said Mehta.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan held a meeting to review actions and preparedness for COVID-19 management through video conferencing with Health Ministers, Chief Secretaries of States and UTs and other related officers of the Health Departments. Government has been urging the private sector to rope in for testing as well treatment since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis hit the country.

Offering to share the burned of increasing coronavirus patients, Apollo Hospitals, announced the launch of a comprehensive and integrated response plan to take the battle to COVID-19 titled ‘Project Kavach’, which means ‘shield’. The response plan is a comprehensive approach that encompasses all aspects from information, screening and assessment, testing, to readying the infrastructure for quarantine and treatment, the Indian hospital chain said.

“We are fighting a war not just for this generation but also for the generations to come. The novel coronavirus pandemic knows no borders, makes no distinction between religion, caste, creed, colour or social status. It will require for all of us to come together, young and old as one to ‘Break the Chain’,” said Prathap C. Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group.

The Apollo hospitals also announced to launch “Project Stay I”, an innovative strategy to create medical rooms in hotels/hostels with light medical supervision for quarantine and creating a barrier before people come into the hospitals. “This would address the situation where over 50% of the cases need only isolation and paracetamol,” said Preetha Reddy, Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group said.

These medical rooms will be rolled out in the following cities – Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Bangalore and Delhi, starting with approximately 50 in each city, going up by 50 rooms every three days, to reach an eventual target of 5000 rooms across the country. These will be calibrated as per the need”.

In locations such as Andhra Pradesh, Bhubaneshwar where the government has set aside separate hospitals for COVID care, Apollo is assisting them by managing a certain number of beds within large government hospitals. The group also said that it is preparing for the next stage of community transmission of the virus.

According to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Hospital has earmarked dedicated beds including ICU care as mandated by Delhi Government recently for Covid 19 patients along with a separate place for consulting these patients in OPD.

“We have also prepared space for stay of dedicated staff who will take care of COVID-19 patients. Our diagnostic lab is ready for testing. However, basic requirements are due,” officials at Ganga Ram Hospital said.

“We shall require help of the government agencies to make available approved diagnostic kit and all other protective materials needed for Doctors, Nurses and Paramedical Staff who will be looking after suspected /confirmed cases of COVID-19 patients,” the official said.

In Bhilwara district, which has become the epicentre of Covid-19 in Rajasthan, govt has taken over 5 private hospitals for treatment of patients. The Chhattisgarh government on Thursday also decided to take over all private hospitals in the state to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, but rescinded the order hours later. The move followed as five new cases were confirmed in the state on Thursday. In Assam, the state government announced that Silchar DSA ground, Guwahati's Sarusajai Stadium will be converted into makeshift hospital.

Considering the role of doctors, the Government on Thursday also as announced Rs. 50 Lakh insurance cover for doctors, paramedic, healthcare workers dealing with corona virus outbreak today. “States should also provide funds under National Health Mission (NHM) to medical colleges for procuring COVID-19 related items.

Leroy Leo contributed to this story