Chandigarh: PGI OPDs to start with just 8% of capacity

CHANDIGARH: The coronavirus pandemic has forced PGI to cancel the annual summer vacation for its faculty as it plans to open its out patient departments (OPDs) from May 18.
The move will require the hospital to have its full strength, said the decision makers in PGI. However, not too many patients, like in the past, will be allowed to walk into the hospital that caters to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh apart from the Tricity. Around 30 new patients in an OPD will be given appointment. Against the 10,000 daily footfall in all OPDs, the number will now be just 750.
“We will see all follow-up cases using telemedicine. But for new cases, each department will not see more than 20-30 patients a day,” said PGI director Dr Jagat Ram. “The OPDs patients will have to seek online or telephonic appointment. Those who get the slot earlier will be seen. Emergency services are still operational.”
The new post-lockdown strategy is to ensure social distancing and stem the spread of coronavirus infection. “One third of PGI staff is in the Covid hospital, the other one third in departments where patients are admitted. The other staff is quarantined,” said a faculty member. This leaves the staff strength of the PGI very low for the OPD services.
The PGI has 1,091 patients, 300 of which were admitted on May 6. Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, has 150 patients and Government Multi-specialty Hospital, Sector 16, has less than 100 patients, according to May 6 data. The out patient departments will be functional with no airconditioners, with doctors wearing personal protection equipment (PPE) kits. “To remain in the protective gear for even three hours without water and that too during the summer is really uncomfortable. That is why the number of patients has to be reduced,” said a doctor.
Cubicles have been erected in PGI’s emergency to keep patients at a distance from one another. At any given point of time, the bed occupancy of PGI’s emergency is 200%.