Amid oxygen, bed shortage, NCR patients head to Punjab

Aman Sood & Karam Prakash

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 22

Amid reports of limited supply of medical oxygen across various states, patients from as far as Noida and Delhi are now turning to Punjab to receive Covid treatment.

With Delhi hospitals also running low on Covid beds, a number of patients from the National Capital Region (NCR) have got themselves admitted to Government Rajindra Hospital here over the past 72 hours.

Doctors at the hospital said these patients had evidently come for Covid treatment owing to the shortage of beds in the NCR. Dr RPS Sibia, in charge, Covid ward at the hospital, said most of these patients had arrived in the past three days. “They say they are here only to receive treatment. They have acquaintances in Patiala, but are residents of Delhi.”

Sources said in other districts too, outside patients had given local guardians’ addresses for admission here. “I came here after I tested positive in Delhi. I was in touch with my cousin in Ludhiana and he arranged for a bed here. Hopefully, oxygen will not be an issue in Punjab. The situation is getting bad in Delhi,” said a patient from the national capital.

Dr Sibia added they would extend treatment irrespective of where the patients belong. “We have been treating patients and will continue to do so. For us, all are equal.”

The sources said the hospital still had relatively better facilities. Besides, it has enough stock of Remdesivir, an antiviral drug required for Covid treatment. They said availability of ample Covid beds with ventilator and dialysis machines were key factors drawing patients from other states.

It was learnt many patients from Delhi were receiving Covid treatment in private hospitals of Punjab by giving local address.

Patiala Civil Surgeon Dr Satinder Singh said: “Besides Delhi, patients are also coming from Haryana. I have informed the higher-ups about the medical influx to Rajindra hospital. However, we will continue to work for humanity and treat every Covid patient.”

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