Kochi: The Ernakulam Medical College is all set to cease treatment of COVID-19 patients as the authorities have decided to restart classes for medical students following instructions from the National Medical Council in this regard. The cramped Aluva District Hospital could be used for treating COVID-19 cases as the new plan kicks in by next month.
A decision has been reportedly taken to start medical classes by stopping COVID treatment from January 15 and to resume operations of non-COVID treatment departments from the first week of January.
As a first step towards this, the patient-triage system may be stopped from the middle of this month to regulate the admission of COVID patients to the hospital. (The patient triage system helps assess the health condition of patients with COVID to help decide where and what type of treatment should be given to them.)
The crucial decision was taken at a review meeting that was held after three leading institutions in the district, including the Medical College, sought the district administration’s immediate permission to withdraw from providing COVID treatment.
The meeting was attended by officials from the health department and top officials of the medical college. It was also decided to look into the possibility of using the Aluva District Hospital for COVID treatment instead of the medical college.
Why the hurry?
The district administration decided to look for alternatives considering the stand of the medical college officials.
The medical college authorities were adamant that in order to restart classes the treatment of COVID cases has to be discontinued. They cited the National Medical Council's ultimatum to start classes immediately and students’ anxiety over class interruptions.
There will be space constraints in the Medical College when non-COVID departments and medical classes resume.
The plan is to stop the functioning of various COVID departments in phases. First, the functioning of the COVID ward and then the ICU will be stopped. Doctors from all the departments are now on COVID duty. Only if they are re-assigned to their original departments can non-COVID treatment and classes be fully resumed.
The crisis has been exacerbated as the owners of PVS Hospital have sought to permission to cease operations within 100 days after it began to provide COVID treatment.
Adlux, which is a second-line treatment centre (SLTC) for COVID, will also stop operations by January.
Unfit alternative
Kochi: The operations of the Aluva District Hospital, which is being considered as an alternative COVID treatment centre instead of the medical college, are in disarray. The medical college treats COVID patients who are in critical condition. But the Aluva college does not have the facilities to take care of critical patients. Critical ICU and ventilator will have to be set up here. The district hospital has only the normal intensive care unit.
The construction of the centralised oxygen ward is not yet complete. Sample collection and antigen testing are the only COVID-related activities that are currently being carried out at the district hospital.
