In the past few weeks, medical devices have been missing in the wards of the COVID district hospital.
The District Headquarters Hospital was converted into a COVID hospital last year when COVID cases rose sharply in the western mandals. In the first wave, the hospital was more of a COVID care center with an intensive care unit. However, demand for devices such as pulse oximeters, humidifiers, oxygen concentrators, and ventilation beds didn’t rise until the second wave, prompting hospital authorities to either buy the devices in bulk or solicit donations to help treat the endless influx of patients is draining away May to the hospital.
Armed with adequate equipment, hospital officials began in good faith providing inpatients with oximeters and thermal guns, merely asking them to return the equipment to the ward staff upon discharge.
The hospital’s chief administrator, Naresh Kumar Reddy, regretted that a recent inspection of the wards found that several devices had disappeared from beds and that the loss of property could cost several lakhs rupees.
“After discharge, some patients managed to take the devices with them. Several high-quality sheets have also disappeared from the wards. We have received information that those who have been laid off plan to sell the stolen equipment at a high price, especially the humidifiers, which are in high demand in medical stores, ”he said.
The official said the medical and paramedical staff had cared for the patients around the clock and provided them with all facilities at the level of corporate hospitals. “It is reprehensible that people fall back on such mischief and cause significant financial damage to the hospital. If we are to get the equipment back it would be a lengthy process and the lack of equipment now will cause great inconvenience to other patients, ”Reddy said, adding that digital surveillance would be stepped up to prevent such actions in the future.