Hyderabad: TIMS Gachibowli to admit coronavirus patients from Sunday

Hyderabad: The Telangana government seems to be gearing up for meeting any emergency in view of the continued surge in Covid-19 cases in the state.

This is evident from the fact that the government, which had kept the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS), Gachibowli, empty till now, has decided to admit corona positive patients from June 28. The government has completed the process of appointing required staff to make the hospital fully operational.

Health Minister Eatala Rajender and senior officials of the Health department inspected the new facility on Wednesday evening. This hospital, with corporate hospital feel and look and new beds and equipment, will have 1,224 beds with 1,000 of them equipped with oxygen lines and another 50 beds will have ventilator support.

"For the last few days, OPs are being run here. From now onwards, in-patients will also be admitted," Eatala said, pointing out that TIMS and Research Centre will be modelled along the lines of the famous PGIMER, Chandigarh and it will provide much needed health specialists each year like NIMS is doing at present.

He urged the people not to rush for treatment in corporate hospitals as only moderate and critical cases require hospitalization, while mild symptoms can recover while being in home isolation. "Don't rush to private hospitals for tests or admissions even if they are asymptomatic though are well off and can afford costly treatment there," he said. He pointed out that the Health department has ample number of beds to treat patients. Besides Gandhi and TIMS, there are over 17,000 beds in private medical colleges that will be used if need arises in the future.

He said that at present there are over 4,000 active cases out of which 3,000 are in home isolation, while 1,000 are getting treatment in hospitals. While 700 are in Gandhi hospital, remaining 300 are in private hospitals, he said.

Denying criticism from Opposition parties about the treatment in Gandhi hospital, he said the doctors and healthcare workers are doing their best to save the lives of many risking their own lives. He said such criticism would affect the morale of the doctors and other medical staff.

The Minister said that the government has decided to click photographs and also attach a tag to people who die of Covid in Gandhi hospital to avoid any confusion and for easy recognition of the deceased by their family members.