Bhubaneswar: Amid the growing concern for healthcare infrastructure with the steep rise in Covid-19 cases since the last 20 days in Odisha, the Director of Public Health Dr Niranjan Mishra said that there is no crisis of beds at several designated Covid Care Centres and Hospitals.
“All district Collectors have been directed to increase the number of beds four to five times more than the last year at several designated Covid hospitals, district hospitals and medical college hospitals in their jurisdiction,” said Mishra.
However, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) will be increased around two times as the set up required to add ICU beds will be a difficult task as it needs time, added Mishra.
Four categories of beds are required to treat Covid inflicted patients which include- Common beds, oxygen support beds, ICU beds and ICU bed with ventilator.
On an average, 6 percent ICU beds are needed for per 100 beds. Keeping in view the prevailing situation, the concerned authorities have decided to keep the oxygen support beds or High-Dependency Unit (HDU) higher so that the patients who only need oxygen support will not be taken to ICU instead critical patients will be admitted to ICUs. This will ease the pressure on intensive care units, stated the State Public Health Director.
Those who are discharged from ICUs can be kept in HDU. This will maintain the balance between ICU and HDU. However, this will be done in phased manner and depending on the requirement. Besides, the private hospitals will also be negotiated in this regard, he further said.
Giving details on the health infrastructure available in the State to treat Covid patients, Mishra said, “The occupancy in general beds in Odisha is 25 percent, ICU is 60 percent and ventilator is 18 percent.”
Out of 248 ventilator beds, 45 beds were occupied till Saturday. Similarly, 329 ICU beds have been occupied out of 541 ICU beds in the State. Therefore, there is no crisis of hospital beds in the State till date, assured Mishra adding more than 400 ventilators have also been kept ready and will be engaged if need arises.
(Edited By Rashmi Ranjan Mohanty)