Naidu Hospital to have ICU in next six months: Mohol

PUNE: Mayor Murlidhar Mohol has assured that the PMC-run Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital will have an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the next six months. Mohol was addressing a press meet on Thursday after taking a tour of the facility to check the preparedness in case of positive cases of Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) in the city.

Coming under the Health Department of PMC, the Naidu Hospital has isolation wards for patients who have symptoms of COVID-19. However, in severe cases, where the patients are in need of ventilators, the patients are moved to the Sassoon General Hospital (SGH) as the facility does not have an ICU. 

“Though there are no patients of COVID-19 in Pune or Maharashtra, it is important that the hospital has all the facilities. To ensure total care of patients, there is a need to have an isolated ICU at Naidu Hospital. There are seven medical officials, one superintendent, one nodal officer deputed to monitor the situation. Moreover, there are medicines worth Rs 15 lakh available with the PMC Health Department. All these are precautionary measures,” said Mohol.

He said that citizens should not panic as there are no cases of COVID-19 in the State. “However, citizens should focus on maintaining hygiene and washing hands at regular intervals. For patients with a travel history to other countries, they should come to the hospital in case of any symptoms. Avoid crowded places,” said Mohol.

GOVT’S HEALTH HELPLINE NUMBER
- The State Government has dedicated 020-26127394 helpline number for queries related to Coronavirus. 
- Health helpline (toll-free) number is 104.

10 SUSPECTED CASES AT NAIDU HOSPITAL
- Till Thursday, 10 suspected cases were admitted to the Naidu Hospital of PMC. Their test results are awaited. So far, 80 patients have tested negative for COVID-19 in Pune.
- 178 patients tested negative for COVID-19 in Maharashtra as per the State Health Department. 
- As per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), 29 confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the country. Of these, three from Kerala have already recovered and have been discharged.