Nagpur: Even as citizens find it extremely difficult to get beds for moderate to critically-ill Covid patients, authorities have observed several mild cases occupying beds at many private hospitals beds, mainly out of fear or precaution. On Saturday, the district administration was compelled to move some serious patients outside the city.
In a video clip, district collector Ravindra Thakare said 12 Covid patients were shifted to Amravati Super Speciality hospital as some beds would be made available for Nagpur patients there.
On April 9, TOI had reported that fed up citizens were already moving out of the city in search of beds.
Officials said the issue of ineligible patients was raised during a meeting of all stakeholders regarding the ongoing bed crisis by divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar on Friday. Kumar didn’t respond to TOI’s calls.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI that the committee led by a deputy municipal commissioner and comprising doctors from medical colleges is randomly visiting private hospitals to check if any ineligible patient is occupying Covid bed. “The committee is empowered to instruct the hospital to move out mild cases to a DCHC, CCC or home isolation. If the hospital doesn’t act, I will take action,” he said.
Asked about augmenting city’s health facilities, the civic chief said, “We are continuously adding beds for Covid patients. We are trying our best.”
Many patients with CT scan score of more than 10, considered as moderate patients who can turn severe or critical, were not able to get admission while several patients with CT scan of even 5 were occupying beds.
Vidarbha Hospital Association (VHA), which was also part of the meeting, refuted the allegations, officials said.
VHA president Dr Ashok Arbat said admission is based on clinical condition. “Each of us is receiving numerous calls for admissions in Covid wards. Why would we keep mild patients in such a situation?” he said.
Dr Arbat said multiple parameters of each patient like CT scan score, temperature and other conditions are taken into account before recommending admission. “We told the administration that all these are technical aspects and must be left to experts. The rule is all serious cases are admitted in hospital,” he said.
Officials said though it depends on the judgement of a doctor, it can’t be ruled out that mild cases are being admitted due to various reasons, including pressure from politicians and VIPs.