THE Covid-19 pandemic has stirred a state of panic among healthcare professionals and hospitals across the country. Almost all out patients departments are closed and many emergency departments are reluctant to give treatment out of fear that a patient may be covid positive. This development is more disastrous than Covid-19 patients.

There is a widespread fear among healthcare professionals of contracting Covid infection. This is a genuine concern but there are guidelines for protection to prevent transmission.

We need to take all possible measures to protect ourselves while dealing with suspected cases. Hospitals cannot deny care based on panic and fear as we have sworn an oath.

We know that the virus’s main route of transmission from an infected person is through droplets that are sneezed or coughed out. These droplets then land in or are breathed into another person’s airways, or fall on a surface that is touched by an uninfected person, who then touches their face — specifically their mouth, nose, ears or eyes. Airborne transmission from person-to-person over long distances is unlikely.

What is needed is to screen patients as per current definition, designate an area in ERs to cater for respiratory illness and suspected Covid patients with all PPE precautions.

There should be a facility for testing for suspect cases and further triaging should be done based on result.

All hospitals should not treat seriously ill Covid patients. Such patients should be referred to dedicated units. Such units should be established in all major tertiary care and sub specialty hospitals catering for both adults and children.

The government alone cannot handle an emergency of such magnitude. The private sector needs to work with the government to ensure uninterrupted supplies of PPE, testing facilities, education and training of healthcare professionals and establish well-equipped and properly staffed centres across the country.

Dr M. Shamvil Ashraf
Indus Health Network
Karachi

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2020