NBMCH rolls back decision to restrict admission

SANKHA GHOSH, SNS, SILIGURI,  8 JUNE 2020: Normal admission of patients resumed at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) today, 48 hours after authorities had issued an order restricting the same. Meanwhile, a paid health facility for Covid-19 patients is coming up in Siliguri.

The NBMCH had earlier issued an order, restricting the admission, except for the "seriously ill/moribund/gasping cases." after a large number of healthcare workers have gone into quarantine, while some have tested positive for COVID- 19 across several departments of the hospital.

The decision to take back the earlier order followed a controversy that the same courted.

The officer on special duty for Covid -19 in north Bengal, Dr Susanta Kumar Roy, today addressed a meeting with authorities, following this situation, as a large number of people are dependent on healthcare services provided by the NBMCH.

"Some doctors and junior doctors were tested positive for Covid-19 1ast week, and following this, some medical staff came in their contact and were quarantined. Considering the fact, except for emergency services, restrictions were imposed on the admissions temporarily. I met the NBMCH authorities, heads of departments, and requested them to restore normality after analysing the present situation and strength of the medical staff. The authorities agreed to restore normal services from today." Dr Roy said after the meeting at the NBMCH.

However, questions came up on the logic behind the earlier decision when compared to the present strength of doctors.

According to Dr Roy, eight NBMCH doctors including interns and house staff have been tested positive. Around 35, incuding two faculties, and some junior doctors and 11 nursing staff are in quarantine.

Sources said there were around 150 interns, 70-80 house staff, around 150 PGTs and 50 doctors associated with health services with 250 faculties. However, it could not be verified whether the same number of medical staff is present in the NBMCH right now, as many doctors hail from Kolkata and south Bengal districts.

As queitions arose as to why and how doctors are being infected with Covid-19 at the NBMCH, Dr Roy argued that they were mostly infected in quarantine centres.

"The doctors go to quarantine facilities where a large number of migrant workers and people returning from different states have been kept for their health check-up. They cannot go there wearing PPEs. It is suspected that they are getting infected there." Dr Roy added.

Meanwhile, Dr Roy said that Siliguri will soon have its first paid hospital for Covid 19. A Level-III health facility (which caters to confirmed positive patients with mild infection or influenza like illness) will be aiming up in the town.

"We are planning for the paid health facility for Covid-19 patients. Many people want to go for comfortable facilities, and therefore, they can opt for that," he said.

The state government has so far taken over two private hospitals for the treatment of Covid- 19 patients in Siliguri.

In another development, a 200-bed hospital for Covid 19 'frontline workers; including doctors, health workers, police and others, in north Bengal will be arranged for at the Biwa Bangla Krirangan in Jalpaiguri.

Asok for engaging doctors below 50

The chairman of the board of administrators of the Siliguri Municipal Corporation, Asok Bhattacharya. has said he wants doctors below the age group of 50 to be engaged in Covid- 19 treatment in hospitals to strengthen the healthcare system. Meanwhile, Mr Bhattacharya took an interview of a resident of Ward 6, who was tested positive for Covid 19, last month. "It was necessary to spread the message among the people to boost their confidence and make them aware that the disease does not mean death," Mr Bhattacharya said. The resident shared his experience with him during his stay at the hospital and said the fear of death never came in his mind.