Jahangeer Ganaie
Anantnag, Apr 21: The government medical college in Anantnag is facing a shortage of Anesthesiologists due to which work of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is getting affected.
Official sources said that ICU lacks manpower and there are only four beds for the patients needing ventilator support.
They said that the unit which is being called ICU has four beds placed in a room that has also a dialysis section with no attached washroom.
“Unless and until ICU gets trained staff, ICU is virtually of no use,” sources said.
“All patients requiring invasive ventilation are shifted to Srinagar hospitals putting more burden on them,” they added.
Principal Government Medical College Anantnag Dr Showkat Jeelani acknowledged that there are only Anesthologists posted at the hospital, though, the requirement is 20.
“There is no shortage of nurses and technicians, however, if ICU will get more trained staff, we could do more work,” he said, adding that he has already written to higher-ups in this regard and hopefully very soon more posts of Anesthesiologists will be created for the hospital.
“We have 80 beds with high flow oxygen available designated for Covid-19 patients and there is adequate oxygen supply available at the hospital,” he said, adding that they are ready to face any challenge.
On patients requiring invasive ventilation being shifted, Jeelani said they are working as per Covid-19 protocol as GMC Anantnag is level 2 Covid-19 hospital.
“As per protocol patient requiring invasive ventilation is to be shifted to level 3 hospital,” he said.
