RAWALPINDI: Punjab Healthcare Commission (PHC) asked private hospitals and laboratories to allocate beds along with conducting tests and reporting number of Covid-19 patients.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq along with PHC Chief Executive Officer Dr Shuaib Khan chaired a meeting with representatives from private hospitals and laboratories of Rawalpindi, regarding arrangements for diagnosis and treatment of Covid-19 patients.

They both underlined the need for giving complete information about suspected cases so that patients could be traced by the authorities. “Also, all hospitals and laboratories must transmit information on positive and negative results to the national database,” they said, adding preferably lab staff should take samples of suspected cases as it was a very technical job, however, if a hospital has trained its staff, only then they can take samples.

Dr Khan said, “There must be a smooth mechanism to transfer patients from public sector hospitals to private hospitals and vice versa. Deputy Director PHC Dr Syed Khurram Raza is the focal person to be contacted for ensuring a smooth transfer of cases.”

He said that beds can be taken from private hospitals if public sector hospitals run short. “Standard operating procedures are being developed for occupying beds of private hospitals, which will be shared in due time,” he added.

Representatives from private hospitals asked for government support, especially personal protective equipment (PPE), for their staff in case their beds were taken for Covid-19 patients.

Mr Haq committed that he will ensure the provision of PPEs when patients are shifted to private hospitals.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2020