Publication: Preparedness for Coronavirus Disease in Hospitals of Nepal: A Nationwide Survey
Date
2020
Article Type
Original Article
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
JNMA Print ISSN: 0028-2715; Online ISSN: 1815-672X
Volume Title
Pages
Pages: 248 - 251
Publisher
Nepal Medical Association
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: Coronavirus disease pandemic has affected large number of people globally and has continued to spread. Preparedness of individual nations and the hospitals is important to effectively deal with the surge of cases. We aimed to obtain nation wide data from Nepal, about hospital preparedness for COVID-19.
Methods: Online questionnaire was prepared in accordance with the Center for Disease Control recommendations to assess preparedness of hospitals for COVID-19. The questionnaire was circulated to the over 800 doctors across the nation, who are the life members of six medical societies.
Results: We obtained 131 completed responses from all seven provinces. Majority of respondents had anaesthesiology as the primary specialty. Only 52 (39.7%) participants mentioned that their hospital had policy to receive suspected or proven cases with COVID-19. Presence of isolation ward was mentioned by 83 (63.4%) respondents, with only 9 (6.9%)mentioning the presence of airborne isolation. Supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) was inadequate as per 124 (94.7%) respondents. Critical care services for COVID-19 patients were possible only in hospitals of 42 (32.1%)respondents. RT-polymerase chain reaction could be performed only in the hospital of 6 (4.6%) respondents.
Conclusions: It is apparent that most of the hospitals are not well prepared for management of patients with COVID-19. Resource allocation and policy making should be aimed to enhance national preparedness for the pandemic.
Keywords: COVID-19; hospital preparedness; Nepal.
Description
Gentle Sunder Shrestha
Department of Anaesthesiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Hem Raj Paneru
Department of Anaesthesiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Subhash Prasad Acharya
Department of Anaesthesiology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sanjeet Krishna Shrestha
Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Nepal Mediciti Hospital, Lalitpur
Mahesh Raj Sigdel
Department of Nephrology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Sanjeeb Tiwari
Department of General Practice and Emergency Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bharat Kumar Yadav
Department of General Practice and Emergency Medicine, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
Badri Rijal
Department of Orthopaedics, National Trauma Center, Kathmandu, Nepal
Lochan Karki
Department of Internal Medicine, National Academy of Medical Sciences, Bir Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Yogesh Neupane
Department of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Ganesh Man Singh Memorial Academy of ENT – Head & Neck Studies, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Narmaya Thapa
Department of ENT and Head & Neck Surgery, Ganesh Man Singh Memorial Academy of ENT – Head & Neck Studies, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Sanjay Lakhey
Department of Internal Medicine, B&B Hospital Pvt Ltd, Lalitpur, Nepal
Keywords
COVID-19, hospital preparedness, Nepal
Identifier
https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.4941