Goa: Free up beds, shift asymptomatic patients, says experts

PANAJI: With a significant spurt in Covid-19 cases since Monday—82 cases detected in just two days—and likely further increase in numbers in the next few days, Goa’s health infrastructure may come under severe strain and force it to alter its protocol towards asymptomatic patients, experts said.
“Goa’s health infrastructure will crumble if we have another 200 more cases. We need to hospitalise only patients having symptoms of Covid-19, while asymptomatic can be managed elsewhere, perhaps may be in a monitored facility,” said a senior government doctor.
As of Thursday, Goa had 109 patients admitted in 220-bed ESI hospital, a devoted Covid hospital, which has 25 ventilators. But with patients needing critical care very few, the state has been able to manage the situation till now, experts said.
“You don’t need to hospitalise asymptomatic patients because in most cases, the condition of such patients will not go beyond flu-like symptoms. However, it is a concern because of the fatality rate of the disease and hence, precautions must be taken. Infrastructure should be saved for serious patients and those who need ventilator support,” said another doctor.
He said states with a huge volume of cases have done it. Asymptomatic patients are placed in care centres or home quarantine, because even patients with aggravated conditions have difficulties in getting a bed in the hospital.
“We have to be doing things factoring various possibilities and not wait till the situation develops to respond to it. I agree, some things can’t be predicted and there will always be an element of surprise. But we can still do better if we are more pragmatic. It is still not too late,” he said.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant as well health secretary Nila Mohanan have stated that the state has plan “B” ready and alternative arrangements have been made factoring possible increase in patients.
Mohanan said Goa has a better recovery rate and patients are discharged “no sooner their tests come negative”.
One of the doctors, who is part of the Covid treatment, said if the patient-load increases, the state may even find it difficult to have enough doctors to take care of them,
“We have very fine doctors, but they will not suffice to take the entire increased load of patients. They are already feeling the heat. Similarly, we will need more nursing staff and other medics. I hope, the government now fully utilises is powers under the Epidemic Act and rope in private practitioners to help in Covid-19 management,” he said.
The state has ramped up its testing and as of Thursday, 25,300 tests had been done.
A new machine has been at Goa Medical College (GMC) and will be made functional by Saturday evening, said Mohanan.
She said it can conduct 1,000-1,500 tests per day, which can be ramped up to 2,000 if need arises.