Amid opposition, Ernakulam Medical College Hospital to be converted into COVID treatment centre

Hospital facilities crucial in handling recent spike in cases, say health officials

The Government Medical College Hospital (MCH) at Kalamassery is gearing up to go back to being a 300-bed COVID treatment facility to handle the surge in cases and offer crucial COVID treatment services. But, medical students, house surgeons, and the parent-teacher association at the institution are all displeased with the district administration’s decision to turn it entirely into a COVID treatment centre. The hospital is in the process of shifting non-COVID patients to other government facilities. A total of 36 ICU beds will be available for COVID care. While the Ernakulam unit of the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers’ Association had earlier suggested that the government must reconsider its decision to convert the MCH entirely into a COVID hospital, it appears to have now softened its stand. The association had suggested that academics should continue at the college and the MCH should be used to treat only category C patients, so that treatment for non-COVID patients can also continue. “But in an emergency situation, with a rapid rise in number of cases and patients requiring admissions and expert care, we might be forced to convert fully into a COVID treatment centre. Meanwhile, the peripheral centres should be strengthened and more facilities made available, so that academics and non-COVID services can resume at the earliest,” said Dr. Unmesh A.K., president of the association.