KARACHI:Healthcare and legal experts have showed concern about inadequate facilities for healthcare workers and growing corona infections in Pakistan. The concern was expressed by representatives of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), Young Doctors Association Sindh, Young Nursing Federation, Midwifery Association, Sindh High Court Bar Association, Karachi Bar Association and College of Family Medicine Pakistan while addressing a joint press conference.
They strongly suggested that ventilators should not be the only priority of NDMA purchase order, but resources should be used for expanding testing capacity and supply of effective PPEs to healthcare workers, and expanding corona screening and testing facilities to district level as soon as possible.
They further suggested to develop strict corona screening facilities at port of entry, quarantine centers and isolation centers, functioning corona designated hospitals, activate network of community clinics, family physicians and registered general practitioners with proper PPEs and SOPs, promote home isolation, where possible with monitoring and reporting of data by registered general practitioners and community clinics.
The experts said specialty clinics and hospital OPDs should continue with emergency services only, with PPE and SOPs, IT mobile tracking of corona positive patients should be activated, based on test results in targeted specific areas.