As Covid cases spike, PGI suspends physical OPDs from Monday

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 9

Amid a COVID spike, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) administration on Friday decided to suspend physical examinations of patients at the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the institute from Monday onwards.   

The decision was made during a meeting, here, chaired by Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER, and participated by the administrative heads and heads of the departments, and other key functionaries of PGIMER.

Detailing about the decision Prof. Jagat Ram, Director PGIMER stated: “With COVID-19 cases peaking at much faster pace in the second wave, we have decided to suspend ‘walk-in’ patients at the OPDs and routine surgical procedures fearing transmission of the contagious virus to the patients who are already immunocompromised patients and their attendants. However, the emergency services at PGIMER will function as usual.”

Dr Naveen Pandey—in charge of the OPD Administration at PGI—said that, earlier, walk-in registrations were limited to some people, only who could not access the teleconsultation. Now, walk-in OPDs would be curtailed, and no patient would be called to the institute for a physical examination, only through teleconsultation, except cancer, and obstetrics patients.

The Director also stated that the Institute is committed to cater to the health needs of its non-COVID patients, and the teleconsultation service would continue as per earlier schedules.

Rather, the number of lines would be further increased to broad-base the service to meet the consistently increasing demand and accommodate more patients while ensuring their safety with this initiative.

Presently, over 4,500 to 5,000 patients were either given consultation over the phone or through physical examination. 

In pre-Covid times, on a routine day, over 10,000 people visited PGIMER OPDs. The OPDs were shut on March 19 last year, a day after the first Covid-19 case surfaced in the city.