No beds available, admissions stopped at Nerchowk hospital

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, May 16

Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College and Hospital, Nerchowk — a dedicated Covid facility in Mandi district — has stopped new admissions as it already full to capacity.

The hospital caters to patients from Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts.

There are 160 oxygen-supported beds at the hospital, but 200 patients are currently admitted.

The authorities have now been forced to restrict new admissions of Covid patients.

According to information, the hospital management has urged the neighbouring districts not to refer Covid patients to the Nerchowk medical college for the time being. The medical college authority has also conveyed this to the state government so that some other arrangements could be made.

The state government is also constructing a prefabricated 90-bed Covid hospital at Bhangrotu, near the Nerchowk medical college. The work is in the final stage and the facility will be thrown open soon.

Talking to The Tribune, Principal, Nerchowk Medical College, Dr RC Thakur said, “The hospital is full to capacity. At present, 200 Covid patients are under treatment. Since we have only 160 oxygen-supported beds, other patients are being given oxygen through cylinders.”

He said, “We have requested the nearby districts not to refer Covid patients for the next few days. We have also informed the state government about the current situation.” He said as soon as the prefabricated Covid hospital at Bhangrotu becomes operational, they would be able to accommodate more patients.

90-bed hospital at Bhangrotu soon

A prefabricated 90-bed Covid hospital is being constructed at Bhangrotu, near the Nerchowk medical college. The work is in the final stage and the facility will soon be thrown open. As soon as the prefabricated Covid hospital at Bhangrotu becomes operational, more patients can be accommodated.