Pune’s civic body has set aside 40 beds for GBS patients, but lacks the necessary expert staff to provide proper care
Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has reserved 40 hospital beds for Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) patients. This includes 10 beds with ventilators. But here’s the catch: they don’t have enough experts to monitor these patients properly.
Experts say that to effectively manage GBS cases, a team of specialists is essential. This includes neuro physicians, intensivists, and trained nurses. Ideally, you’d want about two to three staff members per bed, working in shifts. Unfortunately, the PMC only has one neurologist on call.
At Kamala Nehru Hospital, the setup includes 15 beds for females, 15 for males, and 10 with ventilator support. The ICU facility was outsourced to a private firm a while back, which raises some eyebrows about the quality of care.
Dr. Prashant Bothe, the medical superintendent, mentioned that four suspected GBS patients are currently admitted. The on-call neurologist checks in once a day, but that’s not enough for serious cases. The ICU does have trained nurses, but it feels a bit underprepared.
During the recent zika outbreak, the PMC had to rely on state health authorities for critical care. They’ve been without an entomologist for eight years, which has many people worried about their readiness for health crises.
Health activist Sharad Shetty pointed out that the PMC should hire more expert doctors, especially since it’s the largest municipal corporation in the state. Even smaller local bodies have ICU beds available.
Dr. Ameet Dravid, an infectious diseases expert, suggested that the PMC should collaborate with private hospitals to offer affordable treatment for GBS cases.
Dr. Nina Borade, the health chief at PMC, said they’re in the process of hiring more neurologists. She reassured that the ICU is operational with the necessary staff and expertise, but it’s clear there’s still work to be done.