The bed occupancy in Covid Care Centres declines in Karnataka

Bengaluru: The state government and many private and many private organisations are busy setting up Covid Care Centres (CCC) across the state but there are only a few takers for these beds. CCCs aim to reduce the burden on hospitals are meant for mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic Covid-19 patients.

Health department officials stated that a total of 10,000 beds have been set up across the state but there are only a few that are oxygenated. Due to this, less than 30% of beds across CCCs are occupied. There are nearly 2,500 beds in about 30 CCCs, including 500 oxygenated beds in Bengaluru alone. 750 beds are occupied in all.

A staffer at a CCC at a government maternity home said that people prefer home isolation over CCCs. The fear of being separated from the family is a significant factor and also, patients feel that being admitted to a hospital is better than going to CCC. Hospitals will assure the treatment if the condition of patients suddenly deteriorates.

A manager of CCC in Dharwad said, “On Monday, a patient whose platelet count was dropping was referred to our CCC which has an oxygenated bed. The hospital which referred the patient had no beds available. But family members refused to admit the patient in the CCC.”

During the first wave of Covid-19 last year, the government had set up a 10,000-bed centre at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre. But, not even 10% of beds were occupied that year. Also, by the time the government opened the country’s biggest CCC, the Covid curve had flattened and the government was forced to shut it down.

Health experts are of the view that instead of wasting the funds in setting up CCCs, the government should focus on arranging more oxygenated beds and including more doctors and nursing staff. They should also come up with a mechanism that can treat patients with mild symptoms at home and only the severe ones are shifted to hospitals.

A doctor at Ballari District Hospital said, “By doing so we can reduce the burden on hospitals. The government must also focus on creating more ICU beds which is the need of the hour.”

The state ministerial task force chaired by deputy chief minister Ashwath Narayana stated that the demand in Bengaluru city was for nearly 7,000 beds every day. He said, “To put a check on those who get unnecessarily hospitalised, triaging of these bed-seekers will be done in 60 lakh level-one centres and level-two centres.” Level-one centres consist of maternity homes and medical colleges and CCCs, whereas, level-two centres include public healthcare centres. Narayan added that the daily bed requirements are likely to decrease with effective triaging.