Bhubaneswar: In view of the surge in Covid-19 cases people should avoid visiting hospitals unless it is essential.
The Health and Family Welfare (H&FW) Department of the Odisha government has issued a fresh set of guidelines for medical colleges and hospitals, district headquarters hospitals, Capital Hospital, and Rourkela Government Hospital.
The guidelines have been issued to decongest health facilities and ensure healthcare personnel and non-Covid patients do not get infected.
“All types of patients visit hospitals and there is crowding. Our aim is to see that there is no crowding. Those for whom a visit to the hospital is not essential should not visit. Patients should also avoid frequent revisits,” said Health Services Director Dr Bijay Mohapatra responding to queries from reporters on the H&FW Department’s fresh guidelines for decongesting healthcare facilities.
Dr Mohapatra said that to prevent crowding at Out Patient Departments (OPDs) people with minor ailments are encouraged to take the benefit of existing telemedicine services and avoid coming to the hospital.
The Health Services Director told that in the guidelines it has been advised to postpone elective surgeries and take up only emergency surgeries.
These restrictions have been imposed for strict infection control practice in hospitals and has been done for the good of the public, he added.
