PANJIM: Goa government has decided to introduce “prophylaxis” treatment protocol, wherein the medical aid will be provided to the people—both symptomatic and asymptomatic—even before their Coronavirus test results are out, in a bid to reduce the severity of the case and to ensure the patient doesn’t slip into critical condition.
The crucial protocol, which would be in place from today onwards, was drawn following a consultation with the State government Expert Committee of doctors. Goa on Monday reported 38 COVID-19 related deaths, taking total mortality count to 1055.
Addressing media persons post chairing the meeting, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane admitted that there has been delay in test results; however, the backlog has been slowly cleared, as it has tied up with a private agency for sample analysis and is also in process of procuring four new testing machines.
“We have realized that majority of the deaths are due to delay in reporting for medical treatment. More than 50 per cent of the deaths, so far, are in less than 24 hours and that is worrisome. People are reporting in a critical condition and then it becomes completely impossible to save the lives,” Rane said.
The Minister said that the Directorate of Health Service and Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) has now redrawn its COVID-19 treatment protocol, wherein both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients would be given medical kits, at the time of testing, without waiting for the reports. “It is called a prophylaxis treatment. Our focus is to reduce the mortality rate,” he said.
Speaking on the treatment, GMC Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that the new treatment protocol, which is adopted by many other States, will help in reducing the severity of the case. “It will also ensure that the patient does not get into critical condition. This will help us to save lives. The protocol will be put in place from Wednesday onwards,” Bandekar said.
Bandekar said that the second wave of COVID-19 is far different from the first wave, wherein the oxygen requirement is multifold. He said that at present there are several patients on ventilators in the GMC, with a total requirement of oxygen being around one crore liter per day.
“The requirement in GMC might go upto 3 crore liter per day in days to come, if we are unable to control the situation,” Bandekar explained adding ‘however, so far there have been no deaths in the State due to non-availability of the oxygen supply’.
State will set up two Oxygen plants—one at GMC within 15 days and second at Ponda sub-district hospital. It was informed that the plants are sanctioned by the Central government, who will set up and commission the facility.
In the meeting, it was decided to commission 150 bedded ICU bed facility of the Super Speciality block at Bambolim, along with increasing bed capacity at Mapusa Asilo hospital.
