CHANDIGARH: About 93% of
Covid-19 deaths have occurred at the level-III health facilities—private and government --in
Punjab, data of the state health department has revealed. Despite its efforts, the state government is struggling to bring the high fatality rate under control, which since September 9 is the highest in the country. Punjab’s death rate stands at 3.2% against the national average of 1.5%.
As per the analysis of 4,769 deaths, 2,092 deaths have been reported in government facilities having intensive care units, ventilators and oxygen support system for providing treatment to critically
ill patients while 2,345 people died during treatment at private level-III facilities.
Private hospitals have recorded a higher number of deaths than government centres as they have the majority of the level-III facilities. As per the
bed management data, the state has 1,515 beds for critically ill patients of which 1,129 are in private hospitals. Jalandhar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Mohali and
Amritsar have the most number of beds for critical patients and also accounts for the bulk of deaths reported at level-III.
A total of 224 people died at the level-II facilities. As many as 108 people died at home. These are people who either died before their test report came or succumbed on the way to a hospital. Punjab
Covid-19 spokesperson Dr Rajesh Bhaskar said data makes it evident that people of the state have easy access to health facilities.