Dr Nisar said shifting critically-ill patients who are on life-support from various hospitals to Covid designated hospitals is also contributing to increased mortality. “Shifting them to dedicated hospitals is leading to interruption and delay in treatment.” “Most of these Covid death cases have underlying medical conditions which is liable to get neglected in Covid centers for want of specialists and equipments,” he said.
“We need to revisit the existing protocol for shifting critically-ill patients, who test positive for Covid-19 at different hospitals,” he added. Dr Nisar said another reason for surge in deaths is lack of ECMO machines in Covid centres. “Most of Covid patients who get placed on conventional ventilators die, but ECMO machine saves patients from the brink of death,” he said.
“While plasma therapy has proved life-saving in critically-ill Covid patients, hospitals in Kahmir have nothing to offer to dying Covid patients,” said Dr Nisar.