The CPR facility in Kolhapur reopens for non-Covid patients

KOLHAPUR: After a five-month hiatus, the Chhatrapati Pramila Raje (CPR) civic hospital in Kolhapur has resumed treating non-Covid patients.

The city’s main public hospital was transformed into Dedicated Covid Hospital (DCH) during the first and second waves of the Covid-19 epidemic, with all 400 beds allocated for Covid patients. Non-Covid patients were inconvenienced greatly when major departments such as ENT, obstetrics, mental health, out-patient, and in-patient were closed. In addition, the hospital catered to impoverished patients, who frequently flocked to the institution in huge numbers in search of free or reduced-cost treatment for a variety of diseases.

Dean of the hospital S S More said, “ As many as 250 beds will be reserved for Covid patients while the rest for non-Covid. I have asked the department heads to get stock of medicines and equipment. Since the hospital is being reopened for non-Covid patients after a long gap, high turnout is expected in the coming days.”

Currently, 155 Covid patients are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The authorities claim that logistics such as oxygen generator, refillers, ventilators required to tackle the third wave of the pandemic will be placed in the hospital in the coming days. Along with Covid, the hospital also catered to mucormycosis patients during the second wave, for which, four operation theatres were completely dedicated. Now, the number of mucormycosis patients, too, has come down. Therefore, two operation theatres will be made available for surgeries of non-Covid and non-mucormycosis patients.

District guardian minister Satej Patil has directed the authorities concerned to open two major public hospitals — IGM Ichalkaranji and sub-district hospital Gadhinglajfor non-Covid patients.