ISLAMABAD: Health professionals, across the country, have shown willingness to open Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) and work with full zeal.

However, they have asked the government to ensure their safety by providing personal protective equipment (PPE), N-95 masks and hand sanitisers to each and every one of them, working in hospitals.

Moreover, they have requested the federal and provincial governments to take steps that will encourage doctors rather than taking unnecessary action against them. The Supreme Court of Pakistan has also directed hospitals to open OPDs.

Talking to Dawn, Young Doctors Association Pakistan (YDAP) Chairman Dr Asfandyar Khan said, “OPDs can be a source of major transmission of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), to prevent this there must be a protocol for patients who come to OPDs such as, one patient-one attendant.” He said that managements should devise a strategy, under which patients get appointments and come to the hospital, only at the time of their appointments. “There must be a separate isolation hospital in each district so that other hospitals could work smoothly for non-corona patients,” he added.

“We demand that Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza should take notice of such issues because otherwise efforts of the government against Covid-19 can be disturbed,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2020