AHMEDABAD: In light of the ordeals of several citizens β especially from the western parts of the city where a surge in Covid-19 cases is being seen β the Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA) has decided to revive its 24-hour helpline.
Dr Bharat Gadhvi, president of AHNA, said they came across cases where citizens had to go from pillar to post to ensure they or their kin got a bed with oxygen or a ventilator. βThe helpline was initially launched during Diwali to guide citizens. We will re-launch it in a day or two so citizens can get information on bed availability in various areas,β he said.
The AHNA website updates bed availability data once or twice a day. On Friday morning, of 1,198 isolation beds, 88% were occupied, of 1,248 high-dependency units (HDU) with oxygen 90% were occupied, of 472 ICU beds without ventilators 92% were occupied, and of 221 ventilator beds, 93% were occupied. Overall, of 3,139 total non-requisitioned beds at 95 city hospitals, 90% were occupied.
On the other hand, occupancy at Covid care centres run by private hospitals on Friday was just 13%. According to figures issued by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) at 7pm, 902 beds in the AMC quota and 572 in the private quota are vacant.