COVID-19 surge stretching Nagpur GMCH doctors to the limit
Amid a massive rise in COVID-19 cases, doctors at Nagpur's premier Government Medical College and Hospital said that they were dealing with unprecedented patient numbers, stretching the health infrastructure and the efficiency levels of staff thin. "Nagpur district on Tuesday reported 6,826 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 65 fatalities, taking the tally to 2,91,043 and the toll to 5,903," an official release said.
All 820 beds in GMCH are occupied
Highlighting the situation in GMCH's Medicine Casualty ward, a doctor told PTI that the 19-bed setup managed as many as 65 patients in a day some time back, many of them requiring oxygen and ventilators. "Up to four patients were provided oxygen from a single port," he said, adding that all 820 beds in GMCH are occupied.
Creating a presumptive ward with centralized oxygen supply suggested
The doctor said, "We met the Divisional Commissioner of Nagpur some days ago and suggested the creation of a presumptive ward, having arrangements of centralized oxygen supply and emergency drugs, in a school or any facility near GMC and IGGMC." "In case all beds in the medicine casualty ward are occupied, patients can manage with oxygen in these facilities," he added.
Consider setting up oxygen manufacturing unit in Nagpur: Bombay HC
Incidentally, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court asked the State Government to consider setting up an oxygen manufacturing unit in Nagpur and also asked the collector to see if beds can be made available for needy patients at Mankapur Stadium and Nagpur Nagrik Sahakari Rugnalaya. Some doctors had held a sit-in protest at GMCH a few days ago over this issue.
Doctors blamed district administration for negligence, non-cooperation
According to the Times of India, on April 11, doctors of GMCH hosted a sit-in dharna, highlighting the inconvenience the hospital was facing due to the neglect by district administration. Highlighting the shortage of beds, oxygen cylinders, etc, the doctors blamed the administration for non-cooperation.
Maharashtra recorded 60,212 cases, 281 deaths on Tuesday
Meanwhile, Maharashtra, the worst-hit state continued to report the highest number of cases. With 60,212 cases reported in the last 24 hours, the total state tally reached 35,19,208 COVID-19 cases. The state reported 281 more deaths in 24 hours, thus taking the tally to 58,526 COVID-19 deaths. A total of 28,66,097 COVID-19 patients have recovered so far.
Thackeray sought IAF's assistance to deal with oxygen shortage
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday also sought assistance from the Indian Air Force (IAF) to meet the shortage in the supply of oxygen, necessary to treat patients experiencing breathlessness due to COVID-19.
