ISLAMABAD: The public sector hospitals of the city are again considering extending the closure of Outdoor Patient Departments for one month due to possible high risk of novel coronavirus spread from the facilities, The Nation learnt on Saturday.
Two days ago, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration had directed hospitals to lift the ban from the closure of the OPDs of the public sector hospitals in the city.
Officials at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) informed The Nation that a meeting of all heads of departmentwas held here and chaired by the Executive Director Prof. Dr.AnsarMaxood.
Officials said that a majority of HoDs recommended extending the closure of OPDs for at least one month to reduce the risk of COVD-19 spread from the OPDs.
“It was agreed in the meeting that the spread control from the hospital is possible with the closure of OPDs,” said anHoD who attended the meeting.
Officials said that HoDs and consultants said in the meeting that the hospital emergency is working properly to provide healthcare to serious patients being received there.
They also said that the telemedicine system launched by Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) is also operational while the opening of OPDs at this stage will increase the virus spread risk. – Agencies
