Despite govt orders, Punjab and Chandigarh yet to set up Covid-19 ICU control rooms

CHANDIGARH: In May, when Covid-19 cases were on peak, Punjab and Haryana High Court was on a vigil over States’ hospitals and had ordered Chandigarh, Punjab, and Haryana to set up ICU Control rooms to ensure the wellbeing of the patients infected with the virus, and so that the relatives remain in regular touch with the concerned authorities, as well as the respective patients. It has been two months so far, but none of the states except Haryana have set up such control rooms so far.

On 27 May, the HC ordered, “We also find that the ICU control rooms are a necessity as relatives of patients cannot be left in a state of anxiety if information regarding the medical condition of their kith and kin, who are admitted in the ICU is not available to them. This also leads to complaints by the relatives of the patients and the consequent fact-finding inquiries. We, thus, feel that state governments need to issue necessary directions in this regard on the analogy of PGIMER, Chandigarh and other reputed institutions”.

A division bench, comprising of Justice Rajan Gupta and Justice Karamjit Singh, passed these orders while hearing an ongoing petition regarding arrangements and facilities available in the region to tackle the pandemic.

Haryana was the only State which has been able to set up ICU Control rooms in even District-based Hospitals. Dr. Veena Singh, Directorate General Health Services, Haryana, told The Daily Guardian, “Orders or No orders, we made all arrangements for people who were anxious for their relatives admitted in ICUs. The relatives had words with doctors, they could see their patients on screen. Our Mahendergarh district-based Primary Health Care Centre was also been able to run an ICU where doctors worked tirelessly to fight the peak.”

As per sources, the Chandigarh Administration is still in process of setting up the ICU control rooms. The State Medical Research and Education Department has approved the file and 250 cameras are to be installed inside the ICUs pointing on the nursing stations, to make the ICU Control rooms functional. Whereas the court had asked to show patients on screen so that the relatives could be ensured of their patients’ well being.

The Daily Guardian tried to contact officials but they didn’t respond to the queries so far.

However, Dr. GB Singh, Director Health Services Punjab, said, “I will look into the matter, so far I am not aware of this”.