PGI patient count up, reaches 50 pc of pre-Covid numbers

Naina Mishra

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 8

Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here is now attending to 5,000 patients daily, which is 50 per cent of the footfall witnessed during the pre-Covid times.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, around 10,000 patients visited the PGI for treatment as well as for OPD services daily. The OPDs were completely shut down on March 19, a day after the first Covid-19 case surfaced in the city. The institute then shifted focus to teleconsultation services.

Till now, teleconsultation has remained the initial point of contact among patients and doctors. Patients are evaluated first through teleconsultation. Only those requiring further evaluation and examination are called to the OPDs by appointment.

Some patients, who do not have access to teleconsultation facility, also visit the institute physically and such patients are attended to by doctors in the OPDs.

Recently, the PGI resumed online appointments for outdoor patients with a cap of 30 patients per department to ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour. This facility can be accessed from the institute website. This is in addition to various modalities of elective outpatient services currently being provided at the institute.

Dr Naveen Pandey, in charge of OPD Administration, PGI, said: “Out of 5,000 patients the institute is attending to, 2,500 are physically coming to the various departments. The patients are accompanied by their attendants as well. There is a footfall of 8,000 people at the PGI even now. The serological testing conducted on patients suggests that the positivity rate is low among the community right now.”

Patients are being attended to through teleconsultation and physical OPDs as well. Doctors are working overtime because teleconsultation takes double the time.”

Prof Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, said: “We are attending to over 5,000 patients daily through teleconsultation and physical OPDs. We are gradually approaching towards pre-Covid stage in terms of patient load. Physical consultation is very important for patients. In days to come, we will increase the capping from 30 to 50 patients who will visit OPDs physically.”