HYDERABAD: Health authorities in Telangana are launching outpatient services for all recovered Covid-19 patients in view of rising number of black fungus cases in the state.
Addressing media on Tuesday, director of medical education (DME) Dr Ramesh Reddy said patients who were critically ill, need long term follow up as they might develop lung and other complications, including black fungus.
“Detection and treatment of patients in all government teaching hospitals and vaidya vidhana parishat hospitals have been planned.
Recovered patients can go to outpatient wards which will start functioning in one or two days,” the DME said.
The Government ENT Hospital has 240 cases, the DME informed and said that 20 persons were undergoing surgery on a daily basis.
“We want to increase this number to 30 to 35 daily, and therefore required equipment and directions have been given,” he said.
In addition, the outpatient wing at ENT hospital will also check patient status and advise accordingly, he informed.
Urging families of patients not to panic, the DME said that in the early stages, the infection is easy to treat.
“As we are having outpatient wings in all district hospitals, there is no need to come to Hyderabad, even those who got treated here can get the followup check-up in their respective places,” he said.
“The Centre will supply limited vials of the drug but each patient should not be seeking hundreds of vials.
There are many alternate treatments and they will be guided on this,” the DME added.
In case of complicated cases, they will be referred to higher facilities, the government has said.
Major government hospitals like Khammam and Karimnagar will have facilities to treat such cases.
The health department advised recovered Covid patients who had been critically ill and have low immunity because of reasons like diabetes to wear masks even at home for some time.