Submit ICU beds & O2 status info, pvt hospitals told

Noida/Ghaziabad: Anticipating a rise in Covid cases, the Ghaziabad health department has written to private hospitals with more than 50 beds in the city to provide details about their facilities, including the number of beds in paediatric intensive care units and intensive care units, ventilators and source of oxygen supply, within three days. Its counterpart in Gautam Budh Nagar, too, is in the process of initiating similar action.
Ghaziabad chief medical officer Dr Bhavtosh Shankhdhar said, “Covid has not gone away completely and we need to review the facilities that are in place. The department has started examining the preparations made in the past by private hospitals for Covid prevention and treatment. All private hospitals, having 50 or more beds, have been asked to inform the health department about the number of reserve beds in PICU and Covid wards, and the status of the oxygen plant.”
Dr Shankhdhar added that letters have been also issued to the Indian Medical Association’s local branches and Nursing Home Association in this regard.
While Ghaziabad has reported only three fresh Covid cases and GB Nagar around 40 in November, the capital and some NCR cities have reported cases in double digits. In the first 15 days of November, Gurgaon has added 132 fresh cases while one death due to the infection was reported on Monday after a gap of nearly three months. Delhi, too, has recorded 16 new cases and one death due to the infection on the day.
During the second wave of the infection, about 50 private hospitals had been converted into Covid hospitals in Ghaziabad. The health department now plans to rope in more hospitals in case there is a third wave.
A few months back, private hospitals with 50 or more beds were instructed to keep 10 beds ready in PICU wards, besides installing oxygen plants. In government hospitals, 100 beds have been reserved in PICU wards in various hospitals. Eleven oxygen plants have been also set up in nine government hospitals of the district.
During a recent video conference, the state government had asked districts to remain on a high alert in case the number of patients climbed to double digits for a period of time and keep the facilities ready. A two-day mock drill at PICU wards in government hospitals was also conducted for the third time across the district.
Meanwhile, GB Nagar additional chief medical officer Dr Lalit Kumar said the department was keeping an eye on the Covid situation. “As far as the preparedness of private hospitals is concerned, we will soon review the situation,” he said. In July, the administration had made it mandatory for private hospitals, with more than 50 beds, to install oxygen generation plants.