Tamil Nadu govt to set up special post-Covid care clinics

CHENNAI: The state health department will open special care centres and wards and upgrade existing "sequalae" clinics at medical college hospitals for people who have recovered from Covid-19. While nearly 97% of people tested positive for the viral infection have been discharged from the state registry, many people are yet to recover completely.
Many patients struggle to overcome a wide range of residual symptoms such as pain and fatigue weeks after recovery. Doctors in emergency rooms also say there is an increase in the number of people being wheeled in with strokes, heart attacks and life-threatening clots in blood vessels. Some people develop chronic conditions such as diabetes or diseases of the lungs that may cause long-term care, said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.
The Government Covid Hospital, a 600-bed exclusive facility in the King Institute Campus in Guindy, will open a comprehensive post-Covid care centre with an outpatient unit, testing facilities, inpatient and rehab services. The facility will be inaugurated by chief minister M K Stalin this week. "Post-covid complications will be one of the biggest public health problems. We have treated thousands of people in our hospital and we want to ensure they have access to quality care after recovery," said hospital director Dr Narayanaswamy.
The state has also upgraded services of post-Covid clinics across all medical colleges. "We are seeing many patients with poor lungs and respiratory issues after fighting Covid for long periods. We have senior pulmonologists, diabetologists, cardiologists and neurologists posted in the clinics. We also have rehab wards where physiotherapy and other treatment will be offered," Radhakrishnan said.