CHANDIGARH: The Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) is working on modalities to resume its walk-in OPDs (outpatient departments) that were closed again in the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. The PGI expects the patient flow to increase, as routine checkups had suffered during the pandemic surge.
Even though there is no official statement from the hospital yet, inside sources say that in a recent meeting called by the PGI director, there were discussions on resuming the physical OPDs with more patient intake. Presently, the institute follows a telemedicine registration system that allows patients to sign up for consultation on telephone instead of coming to the OPD.
A member of the PGI faculty said: “This limits the patients, as not all of them are able to get through to the doctor through tele-registration. In the absence of walking OPDs, most of the patients have been facing inconvenience.”
The sources also say the OPDs will limit the count for some time until there was a surge in cases. Also, the seating area will have arrangement for social distancing, while the doctors will sit behind glass-sheet dividers in their examination rooms for protection. “The visitors will have to wear masks and, from time to time, guards will monitor compliance.
Since 2019, the PGI has adopted a telemedicine system due to the pandemic. “The hospital should have started the physical OPDs as most of the healthcare workers have been vaccinated. Also, studies show that more than 79% adults have developed antibodies against coronavirus,” said a public health expert.
The PGI used to see more than 10,000 patients every day in its OPDs. However, these numbers reduced to 50% during the pandemic and dropped further during the telemedicine phase.
