Odisha Govt Directs Districts To Take Care Of Critical COVID-19 Patients

Bhubaneswar: The state government on Tuesday directed the authorities of the districts to manage critical COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) or high dependency unit (HDU) initially instead of referring them to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack.

In a letter, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department PK Mohapatra asked the district collectors, municipal commissioners and CDMOs to train more health workers at grass root level and district-level hospitals.

“More number of dialysis beds, maternity beds, Oncology beds and trauma beds may be created for COVID-19 patients, especially in peripheral facilities. AHPGIC can have 25 beds to take care of chemotherapy requirement of COVID-19 patients with cancer and SCB can have NICU to take care of positive infants,” the letter stated.

Mohapatra said all health facilities should follow the referral policy to ensure seamless coordination between the sending and receiving hospitals. The cluster district concept must be followed. Patients insisting on being referred to Bhubaneswar or Cuttack should be counseled and dissuaded as there is life risk in transport, he added.

Patients in transit should be accompanied by Emergency Medical Technician so that the patients do not develop hypoxia in transit. Unless stable, the patients should not be transported.

“The emphasis should be on providing non-invasive care like HFNC in all COVID Hospitals. Remdesivir can be considered for moderate patients, if allowed under ICMR protocol. Care should be taken for early detection of lungs infection,” the letter stated.

Diagnostic facilities such as CT scan (interpreted by Radiologist) and ultrasound of lungs should be strengthened, the letter stated adding that if possible, trained manpower can be mobilised from low-burden districts to the places having high incidence.