Bed occupancy still low despite spike in COVID
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 21: After it was reported that the patients who are suffering from renal ailments were contracting COVID-19 infection at an alarming rate, the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK) today asked the health officers in districts to have at least two dialysis machines available to such patients.
In this regard, the CMOs, as well as Medical Superintendents across all the Kashmir districts, have been ordered to make the facility available at the major hospitals falling under their administrative control.
The DHSK said that in view of the upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the Country as well in Kashmir Division, the patients with renal impairment on dialysis are also getting infected with Covid-19 at an overwhelming rate across Kashmir.
“In order to overcome this issue, it is impressed upon all the Chief Medical Officers/Medical Superintendents to keep one to two Dialysis Machines (beds) in District Hospitals/Sub District Hospitals for Covid Positive Dialysis Patients,” the Directorate said.
Further, the CMOs have also been directed to rope in the registered private dialysis unit holders in their respective districts to deal with the situation that has arisen amid a spike in the COVID cases.
“Besides, the Chief Medical Officers will issue immediate necessary directions to all such “Registered Private Dialysis Unit Holders” in their respective districts to dedicate at least one dialysis bed for COVID positive dialysis patients,” the DHSK said while seeking action taken report by tomorrow.
In the meantime, the DHSK in the routine figures which are made available stated that there are 2588 isolated beds with oxygen support available in all the districts, out of which only 291 beds are currently occupied, which suggests that only 11 per cent of isolation beds are currently in use across Kashmir even as Valley has logged a record number of COVID cases.
Also, it said that across Kashmir, there are 296 ICU beds (including ventilator beds) available out of which only 24 are currently occupied-indicates that only 8 per cent of ICU beds are currently occupied across Valley hospitals despite the spike.
Further, as per figures, as of now, only CD Hospital and Kashmir Nursing Home have bed occupancy of over 50% where out of 123 earmarked beds, 63 are currently occupied. At the same time, SKIMS Soura has bed occupancy of over 24 per cent while as the GMC, Anantnag has an occupancy of over 27 per cent.
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