MOH New Directive

India

healthysoch

Source : Dr K K Aggarwal, President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA

New Delhi, March 21, 2020 : Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Proposed interventions for hospital and medical education institutions

LUV Agarwal

Joint Secretary MOH

GOI

20^th March 2020

DO Z 28015/01/2020 emr pt

Dear Sir

In wake of evolving situation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country, and heavy rush of patients reporting to screening centers in hospitals, the medical infrastructure in the country needs to be prepared for any possible influx of patients on account of COVID 19.

In view of the above, the following interventions for hospital and medical education institutions are proposed up to 31st March 2020:

Indoor Facilities:

1. Non-essential elective surgeries should be postponed.
2. Some beds should be set apart and prepared for creating isolation facilities in every public and private hospital.
3. All hospitals should mobilize additional resources including masks, gloves and personal protection equipment. Healthcare personal should be trained for dealing with any foreseeable emergencies.
4. All doctors, nurses and support staff in different specialties, including pre and para clinical departments, should be mobilized and trained in infection prevention and control practices.
5. Hospitals must procure sufficient numbers of ventilators and high now oxygen mules in preparation for future requirement.
6. All hospitals must ensure that stable have adequate trained manpower and resource pools for ventilator/ICU care.
7. Hospitals may ensure that stable patients are discharged as early as possible while further new admissions (of stable patients) are also restricted.
8. Number of patient attendants should be strictly restricted to one only.

IEC Activities:

9. Patients must be educated about cough etiquette, Do’s and Don’ts, proper use of masks instead of using them indiscriminately and inefficiently, and personal hygiene. Hospitals should put up posters etc. to increase awareness amongst patients on Do’s and Don’. regarding COVID 19.
10. Patients must be counselled against attaching any kind of stigma to Corona virus patients or to facilities where such patients are admitted. They must be made aware that quick disclosure of symptoms end undergoing testing if advised is the surest way of battling COV1D 19.

Administrative:

11. All hospitals should carry out a preparedness mock on Sunday, 22. March 2020. Guidelines (on this will be made available on the Health Minis, website).
12. Non-essential audits of hospitals by various regulators and accreditation agencies may be postponed.
13.  All hospitals must provide treatment free of cost to any medical personnel who pick up infection while treating patients.

13. No suspected COVID 19 patient should be turned away from any hospital and the admission of any such patient should be notified to NCDC or IDSP immediately.
14. Similarly, all pneumonia patients must also be notified to NCDC or IDSP so that they can be tested for COV1D 19.
15. Hospitals to ensure social distancing in their premises.
16. All ongoing examinations may be rescheduled after 31.03.2020.
17. All evaluation work may be rescheduled after 31.03.2020.
18. All Educational Institutions and Examination Boards are requested to maintain regular communication with the students and teachers through electronic means and keep them fully informed so that there is no anxiety amongst the students, teachers and parents.
19. Institutions are also requested to notify help-line numbers/emails which students can access for their queries.
20. All unauthorized/ authorized shops (excluding pharmacies) and eateries in the vicinity of hospitals should be compulsorily shut.
21. Leave of all kinds (except under emergency and unavoidable circumstances) may be cancelled immediately.

OPD:

23. All patients may be advised not to come for routine visits to the OPD if it can be avoided or postponed.
24. OPDs may be organised in such a manner that patients exhibiting flu like symptoms are attended separately from other patients and spaced out so as to avoid overcrowding.
25. Patients suffering from chronic diseases and minor elements may be advised to utilise OPDs in primary/ secondary cam facilities rather than crowding tertiary care centres.
26. Pharmacy counters may be increased and queue management systems to be followed by engaging Indian Red Cross/ NDRP volunteers.

These will be reviewed as per the evolving situation.

With regards,
Yours sincerely
(Luv Agarwal)

To,

1. Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary/Secretary (Health) of all States/UTs
2. Director/Medical Superintendents of all Central Government Hospitals and Medical Education Institutions

Copy for information to:

1. PS to Hon’ble HFM / PS to Hon’ble MoS (AKC) .
2. Sr. PPS to Secretary (11)