Early Times Report
Jammu, July 28: In a significant decision with regard to the management of patients infected by the novel coronavirus, three tertiary hospitals in Jammu city were Monday declared referral hospitals for Covid-19 admissions. The decision, taken in line with an earlier directive to reserve four tertiary hospitals in Srinagar as referral centres, was made during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam to review Covid-19 mitigation measures in Jammu and Kashmir. Senior officers including the Financial Commissioner of Health & Medical Education, the Secretary of Disaster Management, Reconstruction, Relief and Rehabilitation, Director of the National Health Mission, Principal of the Government Medical College in Jammu, Director of Health Services and senior officers of the Health and Administration participated in the meeting.
With the aim to maintain availability of beds in tertiary hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir for acute Covid-19 cases who require specialised treatment or intensive care, it was decided in the meeting to declare Government Medical College, Chest Disease Hospital and Acharya Shri Chander College of Medical Sciences and Hospital (ASCOMS) as referral-only hospitals. This means, only patients who have been referred to these hospitals by others in the Jammu division will be admitted. Meanwhile, Gandhi Nagar Hospital and Covid Care Centre in Baghwati Nagar have been made primary centres for admission of Covid-19 patients in the city. Previously in Srinagar, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar, SKIMS Medical College in Bemina, Chest Diseases Hospital and SMHS Hospital were made referral centres. The Chief Secretary said the decision was made based on suggestions to regulate the hospitalisation of Covid-19 patients to avoid unnecessary strain on the healthcare system. He said beds in tertiary hospitals were required for more severe cases, who may need intensive monitoring in a hospital setting. |
