Nagpur: With an eye on rising Covid-19 deaths in Vidarbha of patients from rural areas, the administration is set to revise its hospitalization criteria. Early hospitalization of vulnerable citizens is on the cards.
Covid-19 deaths from cities and urban areas have significantly reduced in the region, but patients coming from the rural outskirts in serious condition are dying due to late reporting. To curb that, the earlier criteria for hospitalization — monitoring of oxygen saturation (SpO2) with pulse oximeter — will most likely be revised.
Two prominent government hospitals in Nagpur — the Government Medical College (GMCH) and the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) have already started insisting Covid-19 positive patients above 50 years of age to get admitted, even if asymptomatic.
On the same lines, patients with comorbid conditions like hypertension and diabetes are asked to get hospitalized even if their SpO2 level is normal. However, an official notification in this regard is yet to be released. So hospitals cannot force these patients to get admitted.
A senior official from the Covid task force in Nagpur told TOI that curbing deaths due to Covid-19 is foremost on the administration’s agenda now. “New cases are under control but Covid-19 deaths are still substantial. More deaths are now being reported from rural areas. A major reason for this is late reporting,” said the official.
As hospitals and Covid care centres (CCCs) have enough beds vacant, the government can soon take a decision to shift elderly patients from rural areas into them without applying the SpO2 criteria. This will bring the patients under medical supervision and they will get immediate help in case their condition deteriorates.
Doctors have also advised the same to city patients. “Seek hospitalization early. Do not wait for oxygen to fall,” said infectious disease specialist Dr Nitin Shinde.
He added, “Don’t neglect symptoms. Get Covid-tested early and isolate if you test positive. There is no point in staying at home without any reason. You have to get hospitalized once your condition deteriorates,” he added.