Private doctors want a centralised care centre in Haveri

HAVERI: In the wake of the state government roping in private hospitals to admit and treat Covid-19 patients, doctors in these healthcare institutions of Haveri have suggested setting up a centralised Covid Care Centre. They have pointed to the Sindhagi Shantaveereshwar Ayurvedic College as a possible choice for such a centralised unit.
The rationale for a centralised Covid unit is that such a set up would not hamper operations in the out-patient department of different private hospitals.Additionally, these private doctors are of the opinion that arresting the transmission of the novel coronavirus would be much easier if patients assigned to non-government healthcare institutions were to be treated at one place, similar to the existence of the designated Covid-19 hospital. A petition has been submitted to Haveri deputy commissioner Krishna Bajpai demanding such a unit.
Dr Ravikumar Malladad, founder of the Malladad Rudramma Memorial Hospital, said that since each private hospital had deputed one or two doctors on Covid-19 duty, the entire institution would have to be forced shut if they were to get infected. “Many private hospitals are situated in areas where the population density is high, and residents are likely to oppose our institutions admitting Covid-19 patients. So, a common care centre is the best solution to the problem,” he said.
Gynaecologist at Parvatamma Heggeri Hospital Dr Triveni Heggeri said that she lived along with her family on the top floor of a building that also housed the hospital. “There are elderly people and children at home, and having a Covid-19 ward at our hospital, one that we will have to routinely pass by, is likely to put them in danger,” she said, batting for a centralised Covid-19 unit in the district.
Meanwhile, Dr BG Veerapur of Veerapur Multispecialty Hospital, sought clarification on the honorarium that doctors and other healthcare personnel from private institutions who would be assigned Covid-19 duty would be given. He said that that he was willing to support the Haveri district health and family welfare department in its efforts to tackle the pandemic.
Haveri DC Bajpai said that he had considered the demand put forth by the private doctors, and would work on setting up a centralised unit, albeit with riders. “We have already set up three Covid Care Centres in Basapur, Halakeri and Dudihalli, where private doctors can treat patients,” he said.