Chandigarh hospitals may run short of critical care beds

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 11

With 75 per cent occupancy of the dedicated Covid-19 block of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), the institute is brimming with critical patients in need of intensive care. Eighteen patients are already on ventilator support. However, the institute has only 20 ventilators for Covid-19 patients.

There are enough facilities for asymptomatic and mild patients. The problem is of critical care beds, as a majority of these beds at our dedicated hospital are occupied by patients from other states. - Arun Gupta, UT Health Secretary

The institute is now trying to spare a few ventilators from other departments.

The PGI Director, Dr Jagat Ram, said: “This is a matter of serious concern as there are already 150 patients with us. We have sought 25 more ventilators from the Centre, but have not received any so far. We have spared 2-3 ventilators from other departments. We are managing it somehow by shuttling between patients who need ventilator support and those who are stabilising.”

The existing capacity of critical care beds at the PGI is also being occupied by patients from other states. It is posing a threat to critical patients from the city. Around 70 patients are testing positive for coronavirus from the city daily. Some of them already have conditions.

Out of 200 beds identified for Covid-19 patients, 155 have already been occupied. A majority of the patients are from Punjab (60), followed by Chandigarh (53), Haryana (13) and Himachal Pradesh (12).

Forty-seven critically ill Covid-19 patients are undergoing treatment at the Civil Hospital, Sector 48. This is already closer to 50 per cent occupancy as there are only 100 beds earmarked for Covid-19 patients. The institute has 15 ventilators. Of this, three are occupied.

UT Health Secretary Arun Gupta said: “There are enough facilities for asymptomatic and mild patients. The problem is of critical care beds as a majority of these beds at our dedicated hospital are occupied by patients from other states.”

“We have asked the GMCH and the PGI to spare a few more critical care beds for Covid patients. In the coming week, the capacity of both existing health facilities may be exhausted. These institutes will play a major role in providing treatment to severely ill patients,” he said.

Only 20 ventilators for Covid patients at PGI

There are a total of 32 ventilators at the GMCH. The institute has provided 15 ventilators to the Civil Hospital, Sector 48, for Covid patients. The PGI has one ventilator per ICU ward. There are a total of 191 ICU wards at the PGI. However, only 20 ventilators have been kept for Covid patients at the hospital. 

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