MARGAO
The South Goa district hospital was finally commissioned as a Covid hospital on Saturday, with the health team setting in motion the process to shift patients from the ESI hospital, Margao, who are on the way to recovery, to the district Covid hospital.
By shifting the “step down” patients to the new Covid hospital, the government hopes to make beds available at the ESI hospital for critical patients.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane made his presence felt at the hospital to announce the commissioning of the 150-bed Covid hospital, saying the strength will be augmented to 350 beds in the near future.
After taking stock of the arrangements in place and an interaction with the health team and the newly-posted doctors and para-medics, the Health Minister said the district hospital is commissioned for Covid with 150 beds, to be equally divided for male and female patients.
He assured the upgrade the hospital step by step for ITU and High dependent patients after stabilizing the situation and putting the staff in place. Saying that GMC doctors, Dr Sunanda Amonkar and Rajesh Patil has been appointed as the nodal officers to manage the new Covid hospital, Rane said around 70 patient handling staff have been deployed at the hospital from today.
“We have brought some ventilators and other equipments in the new hospital. Food supply provision has been made to the patients and the staff. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant sanctioned everything. Doctors accommodation is also in place now”, he said.
Saying that the government is committed to provide quality services, the Health Minister said a strict protocol has been put in place in the new hospital. “No relatives of patients will be allowed in the hospital. The doctors will take a call on the attendants for the patients”, he said. To a question, the Health Minister said that patients, whose condition has improved from severe to moderate Covid at the ESI hospital will be shifted to the new hospital. “Patients who have tested positive in the district hospital casualty will be admitted in the new Covid hospital”, he said, adding that a full-fledged casualty facility is in place in the new hospital.
“It will take some time for the hospital to stabilize, say around 10 days, before the hospital can play host to ITU and High dependency unit. The ESI hospital is catering to critical and very critical patients”, he said, adding that plasma donation is now picking up in the State because of the ongoing awareness.
Nodal Officer, Dr Sunanda Amonakr said that step down patients from the ESI hospital will be initially admitted in the new hospital, followed by the gradual admission of patients from the casualty.
She said while the hospital will take care of patients will moderate infections, the more serious and critical patients will be shifted to the Goa Medical College and hospital.
GMC Dean, Dr Shivanand Bandekar said the biggest advantage of the new hospital is that it will create bed capacity at the ESI hospital, saying that order to procure additional 200 beds has been placed.
Hospicio medical Superintendent Dr Deepa Corriea said the hospital may have some teething problems since it is a totally new hospital , but exuded confidence of overcoming the shortcomings with the cooperation of all concerned.
