KATHMANDU, May 7: The government hospitals have run out of space to treat COVID-19 patients. They are now forced to treat COVID-19 patients by placing them in corridors and chairs in the hospitals.
Shukraraj Tropical and Infectious Diseases Hospital has a capacity to treat 60 people, including 22 Intensive Call Units (ICUs). But this hospital treats 20 to 25 patients daily in the emergency room. As its emergency room is fully occupied, patients are being put in chairs for treatment.
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According to Dr Kijan Maharjan of the hospital, many patients are shifted to COVID ward only after the beds are available. He said that patients are sent home after taking their fever and oxygen saturation levels. And if they need oxygen, they are put in chairs, and are treated.
Dr Sagar Rajbhandari, director at the hospital, said needy patients who are denied admission by private hospitals are treated in the emergency room. "People come here when they are not admitted to a private hospital. We give them oxygen as needed," he said. The hospital has a capacity to treat 85 COVID patients at a time.
Similarly, the TU Teaching Hospital has been treating more patients than its capacity for the past few days. The Hospital’s 250-bed is fully occupied. Doctors say that patients are being treated by putting them in the passage due to lack of beds. At present, 44 ICUs, 30 high dependency units and the rest of the general wards are in operation.
The Civil Hospital has 84-bed capacity. Dr Vidyannidhi Poudel, director of the hospital, said that preparations are being made to expand the capacity of COVID-19 wards in the Valley. He said that preparations are underway to expand to 100 beds in the next few days.
The Armed Police Force Hospital 140-bed capacity ward has been increased to 175 beds. But it is still insufficient. The Hospital plans to expand the ward to 200 beds soon.
