UT tells PGI, GMCH to reserve 100 beds each for city’s patients

CHANDIGARH: With a sharp surge in Covid-19 cases, and a realistic prospect of shortage of beds for critical Covid-19 patients in the city, the UT administration, on Thursday, directed the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) and Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, to reserve 100 beds each for critical patients from the city.

The UT health secretary, in a letter to the director, PGIMER, has requested “immediate earmarking of 100 beds with critical care facility and keep it in reserve for Chandigarh patients.”

If necessary, beds outside the Nehru Hospital Extension (NHE) block should be used, it was further stated.

The letter notes, “There has been a spread of infection in Chandigarh in recent times which may lead to shortage of beds for critical patients of Chandigarh.”

Earlier in the day, Punjab governor and UT administrator VPS Badnore, in the war room review meeting, decided that additional facilities for 200 beds-100 in PGIMER and 100 in GMCH32-should be created exclusively for Chandigarh’s Covid-19 patients.

UT PLANS DISRUPTED

As per the contingency plan prepared by the Chandigarh administration, 300 beds were to be set aside for critical patients. Of these, 200 beds were for critical patients at the dedicated Covid hospital at NHE, PGIMER. The scope for expansion of an additional 100 beds was also kept at the facility. Further, a similar facility of 100 beds was to be created by GMCH-32 at the Sector 48 hospital by converting the existing hospital into a dedicated Covid hospital.but it was observed that many beds in the Covid hospital at NHE, PGIMER, were occupied by patients from adjoining states.

Of the 300 beds available in the city currently, only 91 are occupied by patients from city while the rest are from neighbouring states. Of the 149 patients at the Covid Care Centre at PGI, only 57 belong to Chandigarh, 54 are from Punjab, 16 from Haryana, 11 from Himachal and the remaining from other states. In GMCH-48, out the total 44 critical patients, 34 are from Chandigarh.

FOR MODERATE SYMPTOM PATIENTS

The bed capacity for patients with mild symptoms and asymptomatic patients has also been expanded. UT adviser Manoj Parida said, “As many as 600 beds are available in Hostel No 8, 9 and 10 of Panjab University for taking care of mild patients.”

FACILITIES AT JAMES HOTEL

He also stated that facilities in James Hotel have been requisitioned, where the Covid positive patients, who can afford to pay the charges can stay and avail the facilities. Eden Hospital has also been made available for Covid treatment in Chandigarh.

For patients availing facilities at James Hotel, Sector 17, the charges will be ₹3,500 a day for single occupancy, including three times meal, and ₹4,000 for double occupancy.

POSTS AVAILABLE FOR MBBS DOC WITH RESEARCH EXPERIENCE, PHARMACIST, NURSE, TECHNICIAN, RESEARCH COORDINATOR