After NIMS scare, doctors want Covid test on patients in line for surgery

HYDERABAD: With fifteen doctors of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) testing positive for Covid-19, healthcare experts have demanded compulsory testing for patients. This will include patients ready to undergo complex surgeries and other emergency services at NIMS.
With seven more staffers, including three doctors, of NIMS testing positive on Friday, the total number of health professionals infected by the virus touched 19.In OGH, two doctors tested positive. With this, 53 doctors in various hospitals had tested positive for coronavirus in the last few days alone.

Though authorities have begun testing the patients ready for surgeries, doctors demanded that coronavirus testing be made mandatory in all hospitals, including private, for patients. According to sources, the resident doctors and other doctors took the matter to the notice of health minister Eatala Rajender after they found out that specialists in the NIMS cardiology wing contracted the virus from a patient who underwent a surgery and tested positive for Covid-19 later.
In the Government Maternity Hospital at Petlaburj, eight resident doctors turned susceptible to the virus while performing C-section. "The viral load when the internal organs of body parts are opened will be very high. This is the reason why it is important to perform Covid-19 tests on the patients before they undergo any surgery. Contiguous tests should be done for the doctors," Dr Srinivas of NIMS said.
Meanwhile, cardiology wing in NIMS has been vacated owing to a sharp rise in cases among doctors. NIMS has more than 600 doctors working in various wings. While a few resident doctors who tested positive are treated in isolation in the NIMS millennium block, a few doctors are undergoing treatment in Gandhi Hospital and private hospitals, sources said.