Private hospitals in Bengaluru yet to chip in

BENGALURU: Of the 56 Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment in the state, only five are in private hospitals. Officials say private hospitals are not shouldering the Covid-19 burden to the extent they can, despite making promises at meetings held with their representatives twice in a week.
At Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases, the state’s nodal centre for Covid-19 treatment, all 15 isolation beds are occupied.Cases coming to RGICD are now being referred to other government hospitals.
The Federation of Healthcare Associations of Karnataka recently wrote to the government asking it to be ready with 2,000 critical care beds. The association offered some staff, but there is no mention of private hospitals willing to admit patients.
Private hospitals say the reason for their reluctance is non-availability of personal protection equipment (PPE) and hydroxychloroquine tablets, which have been prescribed by ICMR for prophylactic treatment of healthcare professionals involved in treating those infected.
“We have repeatedly brought the PPE situation to the government’s notice, but the equipment is still not available. If the situation does not improve, hospitals will have to shut down. We can’t compromise on the safety of our doctors, nurses and allied personnel,” said a representative of a leading hospital.
Medical education minister K Sudhakar had earlier stated that patients can choose the hospital at the time of admission and decide if they want to get treated in a private facility. There are 35 first responder private hospitals in Bengaluru, including some private medical colleges.
Do not mix patients: Expert
Dr Nagendra Swamy, principal coordinator of Federation of Healthcare Associations Karnataka, said the need of the hour is to keep all Covid-19 patients in one isolated hospital instead of several hospitals which will have many other patients. “There are chances of healthcare workers contracting the infection, which is spreading fast. Private hospitals have other patients too. Medical professionals have to be fit. If they also get infected, where will people go?” wondered Dr Swamy.