Govt considering restricting patient inflow at OPDs

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OPD

Srinagar, Mar 19: In an effort to limit the spread of the novel coronavirus, the administration is planning to restrict the number of people to Out-Patient Departments (OPD).
A huge inflow of patients in the outpatient departments of hospitals in Kashmir is giving sleepless nights to the doctors and administration.
Caught in this catch-22 situation, it is not only the patients but health care professionals and doctors who also bear the disproportionate risk of contracting the infection.
Particularly the children and pregnant women, who are seen in hordes every day at GB Pant and the lone maternity care Hospital, Lal Ded are at a high risk of transmitting contagious illnesses.
To increase the health care system’s capacity, the authorities are planning to restrict the patient inflow at OPDs and only entertain the serious cases.
Financial Commissioner of Health and Medical Education Jammu and Kashmir Atal Dullo said the idea is to prevent the virus from spreading and the health care capacity isn’t overwhelmed all at once.
“We are planning to activate the district hospitals, community and primary health centers. This will reduce the huge rush of patients in the OPDs of Tertiary care institutes,” Dullo said.
He noted that the patients with minor ailments and those requiring general checkup can visit the peripheral hospitals instead of coming to the tertiary care hospitals.
“Further, the COVID-19 clinics have been set up in Chest Diseases Hospital, Lal Maternity Hospital, and SMHS Hospital,” Dullo said.
Meanwhile, the valley-based doctors consider it a move in right direction.
Dr. Naveed Nazir Shah, Chest Diseases Hospital termed it as good step.
“The risk of transmission is more in a large gathering. Nowadays, every patient is seen as a potential suspect of the virus. So adhering to the rule of social distancing is must,” he said.
He noted that the patients can contact the doctors on the phone as the helpline numbers are already given.
“Unless there is an emergency, patients should not come to the hospital,” Dr. Shah said.
A senior gynecologist at LD Hospital said the curtailment on patients will definitely help to prevent the virus from the rapid transmission.
“Only emergency patients will come and thus the exposure to the virus will be less,” she said.

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