CHENNAI: The state government’s Covid-19 dashboard shows more than half the number of beds in private hospitals meant for infected patients are vacant, but hospitals turn away patients.
Tamil Nadu has 52,427 beds for Covid-19 patients. Of this, 39,104 are in government hospitals controlled which report 40% occupancy. The remaining 23,568 beds were vacant on Thursday. Private hospitals have 13,323 Covid beds and 47% (6210 beds) were occupied, according to the dashboard.
A 61-year-old man from Royapettah told TOI that soon after he developed breathing difficulties, he reached out to a private hospital on Mount Poonamallee High Road. The hospital stabilised his oxygen level, but refused further treatment saying they did not have oxygen-supported beds. “The same happened at another hospital on the same stretch. Later I got admitted to the Omandurar government hospital,” he added.
TN Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital dean R Jayanthi said the hospital gets last minute referral.
“Things are much better than they were last month, but we continue to get critical cases from private hospitals,” she said. A doctor at Stanley Medical College Hospital said such patients coming in at the last minute are at high risk and such deaths increase the mortality rate.
The situation has been worse in districts like Tirunelveli and Theni which have limited number of hospitals. For instance, Theni has only three empanelled Covid-19 hospitals which can handle moderate to severe cases, and patients have been on waitlist. Eventually they arrive at Theni General Hospital, said a postgraduate assistant working there.
Indian Medical Association state secretary A K Ravikumar said non-availability of oxygen beds or ICU beds was the main reason why private hospitals send away patients.
People should understand that not all Covid-designated hospitals can treat people with moderate and severe symptoms. There are three categories of Covid hospitals. Only category-I (dedicated hospitals) can handle them. The other two categories (health centres and care centres) can’t admit such cases as per government protocol.
TN has 134 such hospitals in category-II and category-III and most of them are in tier-II cities or smaller towns. Tamil Nadu Health Development Association president Rex Sargunam said the government should ensure that all patients get enough care. “If the government cannot take over private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients it should at least ensure private hospitals provide treatment at insurance council-prescribed rates,” he said.
Tamil Nadu has 52,427 beds for Covid-19 patients. Of this, 39,104 are in government hospitals controlled which report 40% occupancy. The remaining 23,568 beds were vacant on Thursday. Private hospitals have 13,323 Covid beds and 47% (6210 beds) were occupied, according to the dashboard.
A 61-year-old man from Royapettah told TOI that soon after he developed breathing difficulties, he reached out to a private hospital on Mount Poonamallee High Road. The hospital stabilised his oxygen level, but refused further treatment saying they did not have oxygen-supported beds. “The same happened at another hospital on the same stretch. Later I got admitted to the Omandurar government hospital,” he added.
TN Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital dean R Jayanthi said the hospital gets last minute referral.
“Things are much better than they were last month, but we continue to get critical cases from private hospitals,” she said. A doctor at Stanley Medical College Hospital said such patients coming in at the last minute are at high risk and such deaths increase the mortality rate.
The situation has been worse in districts like Tirunelveli and Theni which have limited number of hospitals. For instance, Theni has only three empanelled Covid-19 hospitals which can handle moderate to severe cases, and patients have been on waitlist. Eventually they arrive at Theni General Hospital, said a postgraduate assistant working there.
Indian Medical Association state secretary A K Ravikumar said non-availability of oxygen beds or ICU beds was the main reason why private hospitals send away patients.
People should understand that not all Covid-designated hospitals can treat people with moderate and severe symptoms. There are three categories of Covid hospitals. Only category-I (dedicated hospitals) can handle them. The other two categories (health centres and care centres) can’t admit such cases as per government protocol.
TN has 134 such hospitals in category-II and category-III and most of them are in tier-II cities or smaller towns. Tamil Nadu Health Development Association president Rex Sargunam said the government should ensure that all patients get enough care. “If the government cannot take over private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients it should at least ensure private hospitals provide treatment at insurance council-prescribed rates,” he said.
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