MARGAO
The ESI Hospital, Margao is finally bracing up to return to its normal operations from July 1, with the government issuing a notification de-notifying the hospital as a Covid hospital with effect from June 30.
The ESI Hospital was requisitioned by the government on April 18 when the second wave hit the state two months ago, putting stress on the available infrastructure. During the two months it functioned as a Covid facility, the ESI hospital had around 1438 patients, from April 18 till date. The hospital reported around 21 deaths during the two months.
Of the total admissions at 1438 as on Thursday, the total number of patients discharged from the hospital was put at 1241. Around 160 patients were transferred out of the hospital, while two patients were reported absconding.
ESI Medical Superintendent Dr Vishwajit Faldesai said only 14 patients are undergoing treatment in the 235-bedded hospital for the moment, while saying the total number of dialysis sessions done in the hospital were around 242. Dr Faldesai said the 160 patients, who were transferred out of the hospital, including patients who were either shifted as they needed ICU facilities or those who were shift to other Covid care centres.
The ESI hospital was requisitioned as a full-fledged Covid hospital in March 2020 when Covid had raised its ugly head in the state, first as a quarantine centre, and then as a major Covid facility in the state.
During the first Covid wave, the ESI hospital had played host to around 2605 patients during the operations, spread across nine months from March to December last year. During this period, the
Hospital had registered an impressive 92 per cent recovery rate. During the same period, the hospital recorded around 214 deaths during the last nine months.
When asked whether the ESI hospital is finally gearing up to return to its normal functioning, to provide healthcare facilities to the workers and labourers, beneficiaries under the ESIC scheme, Dr Vishawajit said “yes, we have to move on”.
He pointed out that except Dr Edwin Fernandes, who will be relieved on July 1, all other doctors who were requisitioned for duties during the last two months, have been relieved on June 22.
Though the Covid hospital at the ESI hospital was shut down on December 9 last year, the government did not allow the return of normal ESI operations. In fact, the hospital was later used as a Covid care centre for people returning from the UK when the mutant was prevalent in the European country.
