PUNE: The district administration on Wednesday promised better monitoring of Covid-19 patients in home isolation at all the three administrative units of Pune through a good network of doctors and call centres.
The district health officials claimed that the three administrative units — the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad municipal corporations, and Pune rural had been told to set up call centres through the war rooms being set up to keep tabs on home isolated Covid patients. Former state president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Dr Avinash Bhondwe said there should be better daily monitoring and online discharge systems.
According to the projections, 65% patients would require home isolation in case there is a third wave and 35% would require hospitalisation in the state. An official of the district administration said, “The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and Pune rural would have a tie up with doctors and set up a monitoring system to ensure that patients do not violate the rules of home isolation and there is a follow-up.”
Dr Bhondwe said, “Home isolation should only be carried under a doctor’s advice. The local authorities have directed the doctors to upload the patient’s name, ICMR number and test reports, but there is a need to upload daily monitoring, oxygen level, temperature, test and discharge reports. The home isolation period should be of 17 days — 10 days under medical supervision and seven days at home.”
A patient who was under home isolation said there should be help from the administration and community the system effective. “Treating these patients and relatives differently will force them to venture out. Moreover, those who do not have the facilities at home should themselves opt for Covid care centres,” said the patient.
