With resurgence in COVID cases across Goa, the bed crisis has spelled doom for designated facilities that are located in North district. As both the State-run and private facilities at full capacity, the government will have to pull up its sleeves further as Unlock 4.0 is already afoot, with more people out on the street, crossing borders and many sidelining the use of mask and social distancing.
Since September 1, there has been sudden spike in COVID infected persons in the State. The State’s confirmed case tally has crossed 19,000-mark, while the active cases are around 5,000. The 140-bedded dedicated wards at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC), which treats only critically-ill patients with co-morbid condition, and the newly opened Sub-district hospital Ponda, with 100-bed capacity, dealing with postnatal, antenatal, pediatric and co-morbid patients, have exhausted its capacity.
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Health Minister Vishwajit Rane admitted that the government facilities are full with all the beds being occupied. He added that more wards at GMC are likely to be converted into COVID-wards.
“We will also be shifting the operation of Hospicio Hospital to the new South District Hospital, so that the old building can be used for COVID-facility,” Rane said.
Though, several private hospitals, had agreed to the government’s order to reserve 20 percent of its ICU beds for COVID-patients, the lack of required infrastructure forced only the Corporate Hospitals to comply by the directions; which are, too full now.
Speaking to HERALD, Dr Shetye from Vision Hospital, Mapusa said “though several private hospitals have reserved 20 percent of their beds for COVID care, none have started operation due to the lack of infrastructure and with possible fear of virus transmission amongst other non-COVID patients”.
“We had put up the issue before the Government and accordingly, only four Corporate Hospitals were allowed to operate with 20 percent beds,” he explained.
In North Goa, the Manipal Hospital, Dona Paula and the Healthway Hospital at Old Goa, have reserved total 35 beds, of which only 15 beds of Manipal Hospital are full. The Government has issued notice to Healthway Hospital, after it failed to give admission to COVID-patients.
Goa Medical College and Hospital
The GMC, which has currently suspended all its non-essential services and OPDs, have total five dedicated wards- 138, 145, 146, 147 and 122. While the first four wards, with capacity of 30 each, were made operational early last month, ward 122, the Cardiac Ward, was put to use recently.
“At present there are 183 patients admitted in GMC,” Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said adding that majority are critically ill.
Sub-District Hospital- Ponda
The facility was commissioned last month with 100-bed capacity. Initially, only the postnatal, antenatal and pediatric care was admitted in the hospital. With increasing load on GMC and ESI-Margao hospital, some patients with co-morbid condition were shifted at the hospital.
There are 40 patients, including 24 male and 14 female, with co-morbid conditions, which include 60 patients with antenatal and postnatal.
“Our capacity is full. Only the pediatric beds are available,” said hospital in-charge Dr Vikas Kuvelkar.
He added that the hospital was originally designated for 220-beds but following the protocol of social distancing, the same was reduced to 100-beds.
Manipal Hospital
The hospital with 75 working beds has reserved 15 for COVID-patients. “We have 100 percent occupants of COVID and we cannot take more till the beds are free,” said Dr Shekhar Salkar.
He added, “Hence we recommend home isolation for asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients.”
Union Minister for Ayush Shripad Naik is undergoing treatment since August 14. It was earlier this week that he was shifted out of the COVID-ward.
MLA Ramakrishna Dhavalikar, his brother Dilip, MLA Churchill Alemao and his wife and Director Health Services Dr Jose D’Sa are also being treated at the hospital for COVID.
