Closing OPDs for Covid-19 to put other patients’ health at risk
Polyclinic male hostel has already been sealed on Friday after confirmation of the virus in a doctor residing there
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital (Polyclinic) has refused to comply with the orders of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to shut down the outpatient department (OPD) of the healthcare facility to halt the influx of patients amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) breakout.
The hospital officials said closure of OPDs would jeopardise the health of patients suffering from terminal ailments like cardiac issues, asthma and renal problems.
He said that such patients require regular weekly checkups and the healthcare facility cannot abandon them.
The Polyclinic male hostel has already been sealed on Friday after confirmation of the virus in a doctor residing there.
Officials said that OPD was already working quite restrictively and if they shut it down, patients other than of Covid-19 would suffer. Regarding the surfacing of the case, the officials said that the victim was not working in the medical staff and clearly rejected that he had any links with the healthcare facility.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2020.
The Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital (Polyclinic) has refused to comply with the orders of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) to shut down the outpatient department (OPD) of the healthcare facility to halt the influx of patients amid the coronavirus (Covid-19) breakout.
The hospital officials said closure of OPDs would jeopardise the health of patients suffering from terminal ailments like cardiac issues, asthma and renal problems.
He said that such patients require regular weekly checkups and the healthcare facility cannot abandon them.
The Polyclinic male hostel has already been sealed on Friday after confirmation of the virus in a doctor residing there.
Officials said that OPD was already working quite restrictively and if they shut it down, patients other than of Covid-19 would suffer. Regarding the surfacing of the case, the officials said that the victim was not working in the medical staff and clearly rejected that he had any links with the healthcare facility.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2020.