The family members of a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) patient admitted to a hospital in West Bengal can now get regular updates about their kin’s wellness by just a click.
The facility is being made available following the Mamata Banerjee-led government’s plan to launch a mechanism called Covid Patient Management System (CPMS) in a day or two that will enable family members to keep a regular tab on vital health parameters of a Covid-19 patient such as oxygen saturation, pulse rate, blood pressure, among others, from a remote location.
Click here for full Covid-19 coverage
Bengal chief secretary Rajiva Sinha said that the CPMS is operational, but now only government officials can check the condition of Covid-19 patients, as it requires a password. Soon, it would be put out in the public domain, he added.
“At present, the CPMS is password-protected and can’t be accessed. But in a day or two, the public will have access to it. I have not seen such a system in any other state or even at the Centre,” he told media persons.
There were 1,144 Covid-19 critical patients admitted to both state-run and private hospitals in Bengal until Thursday. While 1,043, 1,946 Covid-19 patients have moderate and mild symptoms, respectively. Of the 1,946 Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms, 1,134 have been found to be asymptomatic.
“The user-friendly CPMS will provide all the information about 4,000 Covid-19 patients admitted to state-run and private hospitals in a jiffy. We will be able to provide updated details about a Covid-19 patient’s oxygen saturation level, pulse rate, blood pressure, etc; with just a click,” the chief secretary said.
Several hospitals in Bengal have drawn flak from Covid-19 patients’ family members, who have alleged that they have been not getting any information about their kin undergoing treatment.
At least 96 doctors are working 24×7 to maintain the CPMS, including providing telemedicine to Covid-19 patients.
“All hospitals have been directed to upload data related to admission, treatment, discharge, and death of a Covid-19 patient on the CPMS, including the early warning score and basic health parameters,” said a health department official.
