ISLAMABAD: As many as 50 beds have been provided to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) for Covid-19 patients in need of high flow oxygen.

Pims is the only hospital in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, giving medical assistance to Covid-19 patients who are in need of high flow oxygen and comorbidity patients, Dawn has learnt.

Pims Joint Executive Director Dr Minhajus Siraj said 50 more beds have been arranged at the medical wards in the hospital for treatment of Covid-19 patients. During the third wave, most patients coming in for treatment need high flow oxygen.

As a result, the load of patients at Pims is increasing as the hospital, he said, adding all other government and private hospitals in the twin cities have the facility to give only low flow oxygen to patients.

Keeping in view this situation, the authorities concerned requested Pims to increase the number of beds in the hospital, Dr Siraj said, adding in response to this 50 more beds were arranged.

Elaborating further, he said patients in need of low flow oxygen are given 15 litres of it whereas 15 to 70 litres of oxygen is given to patients in need of high flow oxygen. In the process, medical gauges and equipment including CPAP mask, BPAP mask and high flow cannula are also required.

Covid-19 patients in Pims are increasing with some given medical assistance at the emergency ward, Dr Siraj said, adding the Children Hospital of Pims has Covid-19 patients, below 12 years of age.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat told Dawn that the capital administration in response to directives issued by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) asked all government and private hospitals in the capital to increase the number of beds for Covid-19 patients. Although the number of cases reported in a single day and the positivity rate has declined, precautionary measures are being taken around Eid.

People from the capital and natives of other districts will travel to their hometown for Eid, the DC said, adding they will meet people and return to the capital increasing chances of spreading the virus here again.

Citizens whose addresses (of their native towns) are mentioned on their CNICs will be allowed to travel for Eid, he said, adding travelling and movement for tourism will not be allowed.

Situation of the virus spread in the capital is currently stable and no area is being considered a hotspot, the DC added.

HFH to be converted into Covid-19 hospital

The 1,000-bed Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Rawalpindi will be converted into a Covid-19 care hospital in case of an emergency, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed announced on Thursday.

He said this during his visit to Holy Family Hospital to inspect arrangements in place for Covid-19 patients. Talking to journalists, the minister said that 20 modern ventilators were provided to Holy Family Hospital and 25 new ventilators are present in the new Covid-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU), which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan in a day or two.

He inspected the ventilators, Covid-19 ward and other facilities in the hospital accompanied by Rawalpindi Medical University (RMU) Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammad Umer.

The new ventilators have been provided by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the minister said, adding we will convert the hospital into a Covid-19 care hospital if the number of the patients increases in the coming days.

He said across the border, people are in a critical situation. We started preparation to handle an emergency situation, however, people must adopt safety measures, he said, adding he was also born in Holy Family Hospital and he wishes to improve it so people would get better treatment and medical care.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2021