A WhatsApp group of more than 100 doctors under the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur chapter are going to offer free of cost tele-consultation to new COVID patients who are advised home isolation. The district and civic administrations have revived this group.

 

The imitative came amidst the increasing number of cases and complaints of asymptomatic positive people breaking the home isolation rules. The initiative is just an addition to the civic body’s strict stand against the violators.

 

Divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar said that besides the IMA doctors, local call centres have also started to call up positive persons requesting them to follow the norms. Kumar said that people who are tested positive are well to do and have isolation places at their home and there is no need to make institutional quarantine compulsory. The civic administration also ruled out any immediate quarantine of the asymptomatic patients.

 

Dr Sanjay Chilkar, NMC chief medical officer said that if the two existing centres at VNIT and Pachpaoli are almost 50% full, then no additional quarantine centres would be happening. If required, the new centres will come up in two days.

 

Dr Archana Kothari, IMA city president said that the group ‘Mission Covid Care’ had taken a back seat as cases dropped in recent months. Now, again, the members have resumed full-fledged service. 

 

Kumar said that the zone-wise list of positive patients is posted on the group and an NMC official assigns the number of patients to doctors for calling them up. The doctors post their feedback after counselling the patients. Kothari said the IMA team has counselled above one lakh patients so far in the city.

 

Dr Anand Bhutada, who is a member of the group, said that the task is a satisfying one. The patients are very happy for being reached. Doctors also feel good about contributing as the COVID fight. Previously, some people were doubtful about getting the calls. Now, patients call back if they experience any issues. He said that they are managing the phone calls in between their working hours and also call up as many patients they can.

 

Key points: