VASCO
After first notifying it as a Covid Care Centre and then keeping that order in abeyance, the State government’s latest decision to notify the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) Hospital as a dedicated Covid Hospital has raised concerns over the availability for adequate equipment, staff and facilities.
In an order, Additional Health Secretary Vikas Gaunekar stated that “the government hereby notifies the health facility, viz the entire premises of MPT Hospital, Headland-Sada as dedicated "Covid 19 Hospital, Vasco" for the State with immediate effect, wherein only suspects or confirmed Covid cases shall be admitted and treated."
However, sources highlighted the many challenges with the notification of the MPT Covid Hospital.
"The MPT Hospital can function as a Covid Care Centre, but turning it into a Covid Hospital may need many more facilities, including an ICU, regular oxygen supply, ventilators, adequate doctors, nurses and additional staff to cater to the Covid patients,” said a source at the MPT Hospital.
“The government may have to take care of all arrangements, including central oxygen supply for the hospital to function as a Covid hospital," the source added.
It may be recalled that an order was recently issued to notify the MPT hospital as a Covid Care Centre and barely days later, the notification notifying the MPT hospital as Covid Care Centre was kept in abeyance.
