In an important development, National Health Mission (NHM) has been made responsible for effective delivery of essential health services and mitigating health risks of general population in the State, while health & family welfare (H&FW) department will continue to focus on COVID-19 management.
According to a DIPR release, this has been done due to the unprecedented strain on public healthcare system and the entire focus currently being focused on COVID-19 preparedness, response and mitigation activities.
As such, NHM mission director would personally interact with all districts and submit daily report on all KPIs by 2 and designate officials as in-charge district-wise to provide all necessary information. He would also personally oversee that on no account delivery of essential healthcare services to the general population is compromised.
Through another notification, the H&FW department has reminded all district hospitals to continue delivery of selected services like OPD and other day-care services till such time COVID-19 patients were admitted.
The hospital authority would ensure adequate measures for social distancing and triaging, including barriers, to prevent intermingling of patients and to avoid overcrowding in conformity with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) issue from time to time.
Further, all patients and attendants are to wear face masks at all times, while concerned health personnel would wear appropriate personal protective equipments as per extant SOPs, the notification stated.