Mayor calls for helpline to assist coronavirus patients

Akhtar argued that patients should be informed about the availability of beds and ventilators through a helpline

KARACHI: The Sindh government should establish a 24/7 helpline to inform citizens about the capacity of Covid-19 facilities at hospitals in order to avoid people rushing between medical facilities, said Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Friday.

Discussing measures to combat Covid-19 at Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) hospitals, Akhtar argued that patients and their families should be informed about the availability of beds and ventilators through a helpline, pointing out that this would help avoid difficulties in finding space and visits to multiple hospitals.

He added that this was the need of the hour as hospitals in Karachi were at capacity and if the situation continued to escalate, they would not be able to treat more patients. Akhtar further maintained that coordination between all hospitals treating Covid-19 patients was necessary.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2020.