Hospitals insist on COVID-19 test for all admissions, violate govt norms

Against the government’s guidelines pertaining to the coronavirus test that is not mandatory for everyone, private hospitals in Chennai have been seeking tests from all the patients before undergoing procedures — emergency or elective.

According to the guidelines, besides people with suspected respiratory infections, only pregnant women ahead of their delivery should undergo COVID testing.

On Thursday, 50-year-old Rani was rushed to one of the multi-specialty hospitals in Chennai after she complained of fatigue, dehydration, and inability to eat where the staff refused to admit her unless she underwent a mandatory COVID-19 test.

The family had to agree and she was later admitted, as they awaited results due the following day.

While hospitals have closed their outpatient departments, the emergency departments have been flooding with non-COVID 19 cases.

In order to prevent the risk of contracting the disease, many hospitals across the country have sought a mandatory COVID-19 test from all patients who seek admission.

Not a norm

Contradicting the guidelines, the Tamil Nadu Health Department has maintained that there have been no such guidelines laid down for any hospitals.

Related news: TN announces full lockdown in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Salem

Talking to The Federal, Dr. K. Kolandasamy, Director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said, “In the absence of community spread, we have called for precautions along with a few guidelines including directions for thermal scanning (checking temperature), testing for ILI (influenza-like illness) cases and severe acute respiratory infections, apart from close contacts of positive cases.”

“In case of pregnant women, those from cluster or containment zone and hotspots will have to be tested a week before their estimated date of delivery, as per the new set of guidelines issued a few days ago,” he added.

Saying the guidelines are beneficial for the women, Dr. Kolandaisamy also said that they can be kept in a separate facility set up at hospitals if they test positive.

And incase the test omes ou negative they would not be refused admission by any hospital.

Patients not revealing the truth

At a prominent private hospital in the city, all patients are subjected to the COVID-19 test, as per the hospital’s procedure.

Terming the procedure mandatory since not all patients reveal the truth,
a source from the hospital said, “The problem is the patients don’t tell their full history or reveal if they had any close contact with COVID positive people. We do not refuse admission, but unless the results come out, all are treated as COVID-19 suspects and kept in separate rooms.

The hospital also encourages only one attendee accompanying them (patients) throughout their hospital stay and so far, no patient had complained about the rule.”

Key is taking all precautions

At the MV Hospital for Diabetes, a doctor and nurse have been stationed at the entrance checking all those walking into the hospital for COVID-19.

Dr. Vijay Viswanathan, head and chief Diabetologist, said, “If they (incoming non-diabetic patients) are from the containment zones and have a fever we do not allow them inside the hospital for further check-up.

Related news: Govt says COVID-19 outbreak under control; situation bad in some hotspots

However, in the case of a diabetic person, the fever can be due to the puss because of gangrene in the foot. If even after the surgery the fever continues, it calls for further investigations and tests for the disease.”

He added that at least 40 per cent of the cases the hospital gets are foot infections, gangrene, and uncontrolled diabetes.

“If a diabetic COVID-19  positive person comes, we ask them about their contacts with other positive cases and carry on with surgery in full gear. We disinfect and fumigate, as against the earlier norm of disinfecting the theatre after three procedures. We also provide tele counseling and those who visit the outpatient ward are the ones who haven’t responded well to medication offered through it,” he added.

According to the doctors, the precautionary measures should be extended for many months even after the lockdown ends.

Resonating the same, a source from the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital pointed out that stringent norms would be practiced in hospitals for long.

“We are going to see the virus till 2022 and I am afraid a COVID-19 test is going to be a norm. Now, when we prepare a patient for surgery, we go for a blood test, HIV test, hepatitis B test, etc.  COVID19 will be one of the tests added to this list for the next few years,” said the source.