NAGPUR: After orders of the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court, 2,205 (68%) of 3,260 Covid-19 positive patients got admission in hospitals between May 5 and May 22 after contacting the Covid Control Room (CCR) being operated by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and district administration. As per data available from CCR, less than 4% patients could get beds in hospitals through it before May 5. The NMC had started CCR for admission of positive patients in Covid hospitals during peak of the first wave in August last year. It continued operations during the peak of second wave that started in March this year. The HC on May 2 had directed the NMC and district administration to set up CCR and ensure admission of all patients through it in all hospitals in the district. Accordingly, the NMC on May 4 made it mandatory for all government and private hospitals to admit patients through CCR from May 5. As per data of civil surgeon, the district had registered 41,478 patients May 5 and 22. As per the state government’s guidelines, 20% patients require hospitalization, which means 8,296 patients needed beds. Of them, 2,205 (27%) got beds through CCR. Remaining 73% patients probably directly got admitted to hospitals. Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “CCR is doing satisfactory work. Our target is to make bed available to every eligible patient within 30 minutes after contacting CCR. CCR received 6,391 calls between March 25 and May 22. Beds were made available to 3,844 (60.15%) patients. Remaining patients either preferred home quarantine or did not get admitted to hospital chosen by CCR or did not respond to calls,” he said. Convener of Vidarbha Hospitals Association Dr Anup Marar said, “Around 50% of Covid admissions are being routed through CCR. Hospitals have to charge patients at the rates fixed by government for patients referred by the authorities. Therefore, patients who want 80% rate regulation benefits should approach CCR instead of walk-in.” “However, SARI patients turn positive after admission. Also, some patients reach casualty ward of private hospitals in emergency. Private hospitals should be allowed to admit such patients. Instead of creating obstacles, norms should always facilitate healthcare seeker and provider,” he said. Medical officer at CCR Dr Shafiya Fatema said, “We are giving option of three hospitals where beds are available. Achievement of CCR is 67.64% between May 5 and 22. CCR is operating round-the-clock in three shifts at NMC head office,” she said. Giving details about working of the CCR, Dr Fatema said representatives receive call, take detailed information of patients, upload it in software. Four doctors then talk with patients, coordinate with private hospitals for beds. Patients are given OTP which he/she has to tell after reaching the hospital. After uploading the OTP, the hospital gets detail information of the patient in software. Dr Fatema further said software is being updated with latest features. “Patients from rural parts of the district and across city are availing the benefit of CCR. We are even receiving calls from patients in other districts and CCR is facilitating beds for them here,” she said. The daily Covid-19 cases in the district have stabilized at around 1,000. As against 1,042 new cases on Sunday, 2,326 patients recovered. Deaths too have reduced. There were 24 fatalities on Sunday. There have been more recoveries than new cases for last 24 days. Active cases have dropped to 13,934.
Nagpur: 68% patients got beds after calling Covid Control Room post HC order
