After the death of a six months old baby, who was tested positive for Covid-19 at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, the Faculty Association, PGIMER has raised concerns related to the safety of healthcare workers as well as patients in the institute.
The Faculty Association has demanded screening or testing for Covid-19 of patients visiting the PGIMER with immediate effect.
The six-month-old girl from Phagwara, who was admitted to PGIMER Chandigarh for corrective heart surgery died on Thursday. She had tested positive for Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and was on ventilator.
The doctors and other medical staff attending to the baby girl has tested negative for Coronavirus and the source of the infection was yet to be known till the filing of this report. The baby’s parents were also tested negative for the Coronavirus
Recently, a PGIMER nursing staff was infected of Coronavirus but has fully recovered now.
Dr JS Thakur, president, PGIMER Faculty Association said, “The Association has highlighted that infection with Covid-19 among health care workers (HCWs) is common and ranges from 10-20 percent all over the world and has been reported from medical institutes in India as well.”
“In order to prevent spread of Coronavirus infection among HCWs, all patients visiting PGIMER should be universally screened or tested for Coronavirus with immediate effect. Patients should get tested in their local designated state or medical college lab in order to avoid delays at PGIMER,” he said.
“Coronavirus pandemic has again highlighted the urgency to restore referral character of the institute. PGIMER should take only referred patients at least from district or state hospital as per SGPGI pattern and there should be no direct registration. The issue may be taken up with Chief Secretaries of adjoining states”, Dr Thakur said.
“We are aware that PGIMER Administration is putting efforts for provision of masks or other personal protective equipments as per guidelines but there are still issues related to equitable distribution which needs to be addressed,” he added.