Hyderabad: Congress wants help desk for Covid-19 patients

Hyderabad: The Congress party on Saturday demanded that the Telangana government establish an integrated help desk for the people suspected to be suffering from Covid-19 or other diseases.

Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) treasurer Gudur Narayana Reddy, in a media statement, said that there was utter chaos and confusion over health issues across Telangana State due to coronavirus. He said several deaths have been reported in Hyderabad in the last few days wherein the hospitals refused to admit patients, especially those with symptoms of Covid-19.

Narayana Reddy, who is undergoing treatment for Covid-19 in a private hospital, said that people should be briefed that presently only a few private hospitals, approved by the State government, were admitting only confirmed cases of coronavirus. Even approved hospitals were reportedly hesitating to admit patients with Covid-19 symptoms. In many cases, patients were being denied admission due to non-availability of ICU beds or ventilator facility. Therefore, he said that the State government should establish a help desk, headed by a panel of senior doctors, to guide people during health emergencies. He said that the help desk should have complete information on availability of beds in both government and private hospitals in real time mode. The moment a call is received for help, the help desk should suggest a nearby hospital depending upon the condition of patient and availability of treatment facilities in that hospital. Meanwhile, the help desk should arrange an ambulance and also alert the hospital about the arrival of the patient.

Narayana Reddy also demanded that the State government should authorise private hospitals to send the samples of patients for testing to any ICMR approved laboratory. Early detection of disease will certainly result in early treatment and recovery.