PGIMS to resume OPD services to treat non-COVID patients

Sunit Dhawan

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 8

In order to resume healthcare services for the non-COVID patients suffering from chronic ailments, the PGIMS authorities here have decided to reopen 11 OPDs in different clinical specialties and super-specialties from May 11.

“OPDs for pain clinic, paediatric surgery, endocrinology, gastroenterology clinic, neurology, neurosurgery, cardiology, cardio-thoracic and vascular surgery, nephrology, surgical oncology and urology will be started at the PGIMS from Monday,” disclosed Vice-Chancellor, University of Health Sciences, Prof OP Kalra.

Talking to The Tribune, the Vice-Chancellor said a decision to this effect had been taken as the treatment of non-COVID patients cannot be neglected.

OPDs for medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, flu clinic (ENT), TB and respiratory departments were already going on, the VC pointed.

Spike in COVID cases

Asked about the preparedness to deal with the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Haryana, Professor Kalra said several hospitals across the state had been dedicated for the admission and treatment of COVID patients, but more quarantine centres were required to accommodate the suspected COVID patients and those having no or mild symptoms.

“The number of COVID cases is likely to peak by the end of June. Hence, we need to have more quarantine and isolation facilities. Hotels, inns, rest-houses and stadiums can be prepared for the purpose. The tertiary-care hospitals should be kept only for the critical patients and those having severe symptoms,” Professor Kalra observed.

In response to another query, Professor Kalra said the imposition of lockdown had played an instrumental role in checking the spread of the disease, but lockdown cannot continue forever owing to economic considerations.

“People should understand that the relaxation in lockdown does not infer that the risk of contracting coronavirus infection is over. They should exercise self-restraint, take care of personal hygiene and protection, and not venture out of their homes unless necessary,” he said.