Nagpur first in Maharashtra to have post-Covid OPDs in rural areas

NAGPUR: On Tuesday, Nagpur became the first district in Maharashtra to start post-Covid outpatient departments (OPDs) in health sub-centres, tehsil health centres and primary health centres. Now, these health centres will provide health care to patients recovered from Covid-19 from 12 noon to 1pm daily.

With government-run hospitals in Nagpur – GMCH, IGGMCH, AIIMS and many private hospitals in city having such OPDs functioning, now almost every government health centre will check Covid-recovered patients.Total 82,439 patients have recovered from Covid-19 in the district till October 20.
“Covid-19 can have a long-lasting impact. In view of the situation, all these health centres in the district have initiated the post-Covid OPDs. Doctors will call the recovered patients and review their condition,” said district collector Ravindra Thakare. “This is next phase of Covid-19 care. The aim is to re-establish Covid survivors into their daily lives by providing clinical, psychological and rehabilitative care,” he added.
Recovered patients will be counselled about plasma donation for convalescent plasma therapy.
Post Covid-19 OPD is already functioning for over two months at IGGMCH and GMCH, while the same is successfully running at AIIMS since October 9. According to nodal officer of AIIMS Covid Hospital Dr Manish Shrigiriwar, idea of the treatment in post-Covid OPD is based on three key pillars — clinical assessment, psychological intervention and rehabilitative care.
“Detailed clinical assessment helps in analysing the impact of infection. Physical rehabilitation helps doctors to understand the impact of Covid-19 on mobility, exercise tolerance and muscle weakness. Psychological evaluation plays big role in dealing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among these patients,” he said.
Interestingly, at AIIMS, recovered patients interact with admitted patients and share their experiences which bring confidence about recovery in the admitted patients.
Defeating the virus could be the start of the battle for Covid-19 patients, said senior pulmonologist Dr Vikrant Deshmukh of Nagpur Chest Centre. “We have treated patients who have returned with problems of lung fibrosis post-Covid-19 recovery. Therefore, early intervention and follow-ups are very important to start with medications in order to prevent further progression. The OPDs will play an important role in this,” he said.