Bengaluru: Hospitals gear up to counter surge in pneumonia cases

Bengaluru is witnessing a surge in pneumonia cases. Two to three cases are being witnessed on a daily basis. This is a marked 20% increase in the cases. Those in the age bracket of 0 to 15 are among the most affected. The Indiranagar Children’s hospital, KC General Hospital, Jayanagar Hospital and Bowring Hospital have all witnessed a surge in the number of patients in the O.P.D. 

The Karnataka Health Ministry issued a circular to hospitals on the basis of the recommendations of a Technical Advisory Committee. “Ensure the availability of stock of all required doses of Tab. Oseltamivir and other essential drugs for treatment and adequate stock of PPE for use by healthcare workers at all the health facilities. All hospitals that were designated to handle COVID-19 cases both in government and private shall immediately self-audit and conduct drills to evaluate for critical medical infrastructure and resources of medical and paramedical manpower, oxygen beds, isolation beds, ventilators, PSA plants, LMO plants, oxygen concentrators, oxygen cylinders as well as medicines, PPE kits, N95 medical masks, testing kits, and lab facilities, ambulances etc., to assess for readiness to handle public health emergencies due to pneumonias, particularly in children and the elderly,” The circular stated.