Shortage of ventilators in the city hospital has doctors worried
Shortage of ventilators in the city hospital has doctors worried
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"If the swine flu is not checked, there could be a severe shortage of beds and ventilators in ICUs," said to Dr Dilip Sarda, president, Indian Medical Association (IMA).
40 test positive
Over the past three days, around 40 people have tested positive for H1N1 virus and four out of six patients were put on ventilators.u00a0 The health ministry, however, is trying to make up for the shortfall. Health Minister Rajendra Shingne, who visited the ICU unit of Sasoon Hospital on Friday, said that 15 more ventilators will be installed at the critical care unit.u00a0u00a0
Dr P S Chavan, joint director, Health Services, said, "Five ventilators have already been provided to Sassoon Hospital and 10 more will be brought within a day or two."u00a0 Doctors have assured that necessary measures have been taken to ensure medical facilities do not crumble.u00a0
Dr P S Pawar, superintendent, Sassoon Hospital, said, "Swine flu patients suffer from severe respiratory disorder. Currently, we have the capacity to treat 15 patients in the ICU; the capacity will be doubled if need arises."
"We have 11 ventilators, five of our own, out of which only two are being used. One ventilator from Ghodegaon and another one from Indapur Rural Hospital have been brought here and two ventilators have been brought from Beed and Ahmednagar. We may also install 20 to 25 ventilators that are available in other wards," he added.u00a0
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