RIMS increases number of Covid beds
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 21 2021:
In the face of the rising number of infected persons needing hospitalisation, the Covid beds at the Regional Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) have been increased from 52 to 143 .
According to an official report received from the RIMS authority, 52 beds were allotted for treating Covid patients since the onset of the second wave.
It is reported that the bed capacity for treating Covid patients at the health institute was increased from 52 to 112 first before expanding to 143 .
Even with this increase, some Covid patients are still treated on the floor as the hospital is unable to provide beds to all patients owing to the increase in Covid active cases.
According to the source, at least 168 Covid patients have been admitted at RIMS at present, which indicates that at least 25 more Covid patients are currently at the institute than the bed capacity.
Excluding the patients who are yet to get a bed, 11 patients are currently treated at ICU, 64 at Covid C Ward, 50 at Intermediate Covid Ward (Casualty Ward), 8 at Gynae Ward and 10 at Paediatric Ward of RIMS.
Though additional oxygen concentrators have been procured, the healthcare institute is still facing a shortage in medical oxygen as Covid cases incline, the source in RIMS said, adding that about 80 per cent of patients from poor families require oxygen supply.
Saying that only 30 percent of Covid patients demanded oxygen in the first wave, the source continued that the oxygen demand in the second wave is much higher and as such O2 concentrators were procured to provide extra oxygen.
Though there is a shortage in supply, the health care institution is doing all it can to ensure there is no disruption in the supply of oxygen to patients, it said and conveyed that not a single patient died due to oxygen shortage at RIMS.
The source, however, stated that there is no shortage of doctors and nurses for attending to Covid patients at RIMS.
On the other hand, an official at the Health Directorate stated that oxygen- related burdens in the State have improved considerably, compared to a few days back due to the contribution of the MLAs and NGOs.