2 doctors treating Coronavirus patient isolated in ward due to lack of PPEs.

Byline: Rahul Basharat

ISLAMABAD -- Two doctors who shifted critical novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infected patient on ventilator at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) have also been isolated, The Nation learnt on Sunday.

Safety of the doctors was compromised as the hospital has limited number of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for around 800 medical staff serving at the hospital. Doctors said that some of the wards in hospital also lack hand sanitizers for doctors and paramedical staff.

A United States returned lady was put on ventilator on Saturday after her situation went critical. Later, two doctors who put her on ventilator were also isolated in the ward as they were not equipped with the PPE while shifting the patient. The doctors who were shifted included a senior who treats patients in critical unit and the other was from the medical unit. Both had rushed to shift the patient on ventilator when they were called in emergency after the health situation of the COVID-19 infected deteriorated.

PIMS Spokesperson Dr. Waseem Khawaja said that number of suspects and confirmed patients has increased and the isolation ward in the hospital has lesser facilities.

He said that 10 beds have been allocated for patients in isolation ward, five are occupied with suspects and two are confirmed with one ventilator. He added that around 500 persons visited COVID-19 ward for examination in last two days.

Dr. Waseem said that the hospital already lacks ventilators and patients remain in queue to get number to be shifted on it.

'Indeed, the hospital lacks ventilators and beds to cater COVID-19 patients,' he said.

Dr. Waseem said that there is a need of shifting the COVID-19 isolation ward at a separate location as PIMS already has 10,000 patients' influx daily.

PIMS spokesperson said that the medical team of...