Hospital Bed Capacity in City to be Stepped up by 370 to Treat Covid Patients: AHPI

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
In the wake of steep increase of Covid 19 cases in the district, an emergency Covid Crisis Management meeting of Association of Healthcare Providers (India) – Thiruvananthapuram Chapter today came out with a plan of action to increase the total bed capacity for category B and C patients of the city by another 370 beds.

The main issue in Thiruvananthapuram hospitals is the rapid increase in category B and C patients. Category B patients will require oxygen support while category C patients need critical care and even ventilation.

A Sub-committee was formed with the members of leading hospitals to address the urgent issues of oxygen supply and management, manpower sourcing and training at the meeting headed by AHPI President Dr M I Sahadulla, Chairman and Managing Director, KIMSHEALTH.

The committee will work with various NGOs, citizen groups and the government to help optimise resources.

The district’s healthcare capacity including critical bed capacity and oxygen availability was assessed. All hospitals have been working round the clock with critical patients pouring in.

Doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been allocated specifically for Covid duty and hospital operations including surgeries have been separated to avoid cross contaminations.

At present all oxygen beds and critical care beds are full in all hospitals and there are more and more people waiting for care.

One major problem is the shortage of manpower in times of crisis. More healthcare workers have to be allocated and trained to deal with Covid patients.

Key healthcare personnel including Murugan (PRS), Faisal (NIMS), Manoj (Gokulam), Ashokan (SP Fort), Reshmi Aysha (KIMSHEALTH), Dr. Anand Marthanda Pillai (Ananthapuri), Dr. Ashok Menon (Cosmopolitan Hospital), Ranjith Karthikeyan (Attukal Hospital), participated.