This story is from July 27, 2020

Ahmedabad: Slide in OPD visits, planned surgeries

Ahmedabad city, with presence of multiple corporate hospitals and super-specialty hospitals, is often termed as one of the major medical tourism hubs of India. The city also records one of the highest patient influx from other centres of Gujarat due to pthe resence of Civil Hospital, termed as Asia’s biggest public healthcare set-up.
Ahmedabad: Slide in OPD visits, planned surgeries
AHMEDABAD: Ahmedabad city, with presence of multiple corporate hospitals and super-specialty hospitals, is often termed as one of the major medical tourism hubs of India. The city also records one of the highest patient influx from other centres of Gujarat due to the presence of Civil Hospital, termed as Asia’s biggest public healthcare set-up.
But Covid-19 has changed the scenario completely for both public and private sector hospitals – while the OPDs have fallen by 50-55% on average, the planned surgeries have dropped by 70-80% from March to July.

Dr Vishavdeep Goyal, unit head for Apollo Hospitals, said that currently the hospital witnesses 25-30% of the OPD numbers compared to pre-Covid times despite taking all precautions to ensure safety of the staff and patients. “The planned surgical procedures have recorded a dip of 80% during the lockdown period. It’s now witnessing gradual recovery. Several patients who had delayed elective and semi-urgent procedures are now approaching the hospital,” he said, adding that ease of Covid testing is a major confidence booster.
Among the medical procedures, orthopaedic procedures such as knee and hip replacements are the most affected, said Dr Bharat Gadhvi, CEO and medical director of HCG. “The reluctance is both from the doctors’ and patients’ side – the planned surgeries are down to 20% of that last year. Of course, emergency procedures such as neuro or cardiac surgeries are taking place with all safety measures in place,” he said, adding that compared to lockdown, July has recorded about 70% rise in OPDs.
Civil Hospital is no exception – against in-patient department (IPD) of 9,496 in July 2019, this month the IPD has barely touched 3,100, onethird of the normal. Dr J P Modi, medical superintendent, said that restriction in movement of patients from outside the city could be one of the factors apart from the overall hesitance in approaching medical set-ups post Covid-19.
City-based experts said that the super-specialists and hospitals used to carry out multiple camps in other cities and even states to attract patients. Due to lockdown, it was not possible, and that has got reflected in the fall in overall numbers and inquiries.
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About the Author
Parth Shastri

Parth Shastri is senior correspondent at The Times of India, Ahmedabad. He reports on crime as well as issues related to traffic in the city, forensic investigation, archaeology and emergency medical services.

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