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Triaging Covid-19 patients: Only as last resort: Public Health Services DDG

30 May 2021

  • Pilot programme in Kalutara successful  

  • Health processes being updated, optimised  

  • Delays in hospitalising patients, transport issues  

  • Home quarantining also among final options  

By Aazam Ameen   Despite the success of the pilot programme to triage Covid-19 patients in the Kalutara District, health authorities have not yet taken a decision to fully implement the triaging of Covid-19 patients across the country, The Sunday Morning learnt.   Deputy Director General of Public Health Services Dr. Hemantha Herath told The Sunday Morning that the reasoning behind this is the fact that the health authorities view triaging as a contingency plan which is to be implemented only if the country’s healthcare infrastructure is overwhelmed with a sudden excessive Covid-19 caseload.   However, he noted that following the triaging pilot programme in the Kalutara District, processes have been updated and optimised through the additional data collected in the event that it is to be implemented.   Dr. Herath further added that even though some Covid-19 patients have been in their homes for a long period of time due to logistical issues with regard to transporting them to hospitals, the authorities have not permitted the home quarantining of patients.   “If we allow for the home treatment of patients, this will be a major strategic change. We might also face issues later on, as some patients may prefer to stay at home regardless of their condition,” he added. Explaining further, Dr. Herath reiterated that home treatment will not always benefit the patient, as such arrangements will not be handled by as many medical professionals in comparison to when treatment is received at a hospital.  “We will lose the opportunity to provide the optimum care to each patient, and this is why it too will be a last option,” he noted.   When queried as to why the Kalutara District was selected for the triage pilot programme, Dr. Herath explained that the District has a mix of urban and rural populations in close proximity to Colombo for monitoring purposes, thus making it the ideal location for data analysis with regard to triaging Covid-19 patients. 

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