ISLAMABAD: Major public hospitals in Islamabad have stopped previously scheduled routine surgeries In a bid to save oxygen supplies for COVID-19 patients.
According to a notification, to handle any untoward situation related to the supply of oxygen for COVID-19 patients, all previously scheduled surgeries have been stopped at the CDA Hospital, the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Government Services Hospital, the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, and the Polyclinic.
Islamabad’s administration said scheduled surgeries would remain suspended until further notice. The country has more than 5,000 COVID-19 patients on critical care, with the country reporting the highest number of deaths in a single day since the plague began, a few days ago.
Sources said at PIMS, 150 patients have been put up in the COVID-19 ward, 11 are being provided treatment at the hospital’s emergency department while seven patients have been put on ventilators.
All ventilators at the Polyclinic Hospital have been occupied, while 28 patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital’s COVID-19 ward, sources added.
Meanwhile, 42 patients at the CDA Hospital’s COVID-19 ward are undergoing treatment while 15 patients are being treated at the Services Hospital.
Earlier in the day, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Fawad Chaudhry hinted that Pakistan will import oxygen from Iran and China if need be.
He said, “At present, 5,000 patients of COVID-19 are in critical condition in the country. The number of ventilator beds has been increased by 7,000. The country’s capacity for oxygen supply has been doubled. 792 metric tons of oxygen is being produced daily,” he added.
https://twitter.com/FawadPTIUpdates/status/1387029377368657925
