HYDERABAD: While the Sindh government has released Rs100m emergency funds to fight coronavirus, doctors performing duties in the isolation ward of the Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) city branch are worried and apprehensive in treating suspected cases of the virus because of non-availability of complete kits in the hospital.

“We are handling suspected patients with normal masks. I don’t know if LUH administration has procured them because these are not yet available until recently. Nor the masks are provided to us,” claimed Young Doctor Association president Dr Roshan Chandio on Sunday evening.

The doctor said that considering the gravity of the situation doctors did not want to agitate against the LUH administration, but they were simultaneously scared too as it was a matter of their own health and safety.

Neither the LUH administration, nor the Sindh directorate of health has been able to provide complete kits to doctors.

It is not yet known whether DG health services of Sindh has procured required material like N95 masks, caps, gloves, hand sanitisers and gown.

Currently, 11 suspected patients are kept in LUH isolation ward. Out of 53, Sindh reports “35 confirmed COVID19 cases” so far.

Only one confirmed coronavirus patient — a woman from Qasimabad — was confirmed from Hyderabad city. She is said to be showing positive signs of symptoms of relief during treatment.

But it was this patient who was tested positive. An assistant professor Dr Arsalan was being sent to get her sample while wearing normal gown and required kit and mask. “But ENT department head didn’t let him go after consulting varsity administration and then university management provided kit and that the very patient was tested positive for the COVID19”, said a university doctor.

According to a Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) source, an ENT assistant professor was sent by LUH to obtain her sample. “It was university that provided him N95 mask”, said the source. “LUH administration is not realising the fact that luckily no one is infected but what will happen in case there is an outbreak of such cases”, he said.

Reports said that a committee in Sindh directorate of health was formed for procurement of required items, including gloves, mask, caps, sanitisers and it was not known whether procurement had been done. The directorate looks after entire Sindh health facilities except tertiary hospitals and those being manage under public-private partnership.

DG of Health Services of Sindh Dr Mubeen Memon didn’t attend calls despite repeated attempts.

His focal person Dr Aftab Qazi’s cell number also remained busy.

“The directorate is not supposed to provide required material to LUH administration, which works directly under the Sindh secretary of health and its administration must be having its own funds,” said a directorate source.

A team of doctors from chest medicine, general medicine, paediatric and surgery performs duty in the isolation ward. “All these doctors remained frightened because of their own safety issues”, a young doctor told Dawn.

“The surgical mask is not helpful in fight against coronavirus as it can get infected. And that’s why N95 is recommended for doctors and even for general public as a precautionary measure,” he observed.

The LUH spokesman rejected claims that hospital administration was not taking precautionary measures for doctors who were performing duties in the isolation ward. He claimed 5,000 N95 masks were available in hospital and thousands of 50,000 normal surgical masks were available.

“But we can’t provide masks to every second doctor or professor and we will be providing these items to those who are performing duties in isolation ward and to suspected patients. Our own staff has a strength of around 8,000, including nurses and paramedics. Govern­ment departments’ officials and media professional are approaching us to seek masks and it is not possible for us to meet their requirement,” he claimed.

Rush of patients seeking tests

He said that the LUH administration had written to the Sindh government to provide them funds either directly or through directorate. In case the government didn’t provide such items to the LUH, the administration would arrange it on its own or through philanthropists. There is rush of patients who are approaching hospital with complaints of cough and fever and for confirmation of COVID19, he disclosed.

Dr Roshan Chandio insisted that until a few days back the LUH administration was not aware of what N95 masks is all about. He said that “I had to raise the issue on social media regarding our own safety and precautions because we don’t want to agitate at this point of time considering present emergency”.

The LUH administration didn’t respond to LUMHS administration’s March 9 letter (copy available with Dawn) regarding provision of N95 mask, Tyvek gown, viral transport medium for nasopharyngeal swab for diagnosis for coronavirus, surgical gloves, other available relevant items.

It was written on March 9 to the LUH medical superintendent that without providing the material consultants/faculty members will be at risk for transmission of diseases and ultimately they would affect whole hospital. The LUH spokesman denied having received any letter from university administration.

But the LUMHS spokesman said the varsity had not received reply from the LUH. “We are seeking all required material for faculty and till March 15 nothing is provided to faculty members who are working there besides postgraduate students who are working sans N-95 masks”, he said.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2020