Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, May 18: In the midst of the devastating effect of second wave of coronavirus in the state, the scare of third wave has begun. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has asked the concerned officials to get ready to face the situation. In turn, the medical experts have suggested the state government to increase the number of medical personnel to deal with the situation.

Experts have advised the government to go through the records that were prepared during the first wave in order to increase the number of doctors, nurses, paramedical and other health department staff. During the first wave of coronavirus pandemic, committee led by former managing director of BMRCL Ajay Seth had prepared a report on the number of medical staff required to fight the pandemic.

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According to the state expert committee on coronavirus, one doctor is required for every 100 active cases and one nurse is required for every 10 infected persons. One nurse is required to look after every two patients in ICU while one doctor is needed to take care of every six infected patients getting treated in hospital. At present, one doctor is looking after 10 to 15 infected patients while one nurse is taking care of 20 to 30 positive patients.

Dr Prasanna H M, president of association of private hospital and nursing homes says, “Government is not following the guidelines released by National accreditation council of government hospitals and health protection. It is investing only on ventilators, ICUs and Oxygen concentrators. But it is not investing on medical personnel.”

An official of health department says, “A proposal is kept in front of the government to include Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences in the workforce against Covid and train the students in manning the machines. The government is notified to train MBBS and other medical students in managing machines like ventilators. If they are trained, they can be deputed to work immediately.”