Delayin reporting to hospitals is the main reason for the increase in number of deathsdue to Covid, the Doctors Association of Kashmir (DAK) said on Tuesday.
NotingCovid patients arrive at hospitals only when their condition deteriorates, DAKPresident Nisar-ul-Hasan said: "Medical intervention is key to reduceCovid related deaths. Patients come to hospital only when their lungs arelargely affected and this decreases their survival chances."
"Wereceive patients when their infection is already at an advanced stage. Whenthey report at hospital, their oxygen saturation is often as low as 50 to 60per cent."
Thedoctor said many patients buy oxygen cylinders and oxygen concentrators and usethem at home to ease their condition. Such patients only come to hospital whenthey are already critical, he said.
"Onebig problem with Covid is hypoxia, a condition in which the patient hasextremely low blood oxygen level and yet they do not show signs of difficultyin breathing.
"DespiteCovid pneumonia during which the patients have remarkably low oxygensaturation, they are alert, they talk and even walk around normally.
"Bythe time they feel breathing difficulty, they are already critically sick andneed to be put on ventilator," he said.
Hasansaid that shifting critically-ill patients, who are on life support, fromvarious hospitals to designated Covid hospitals also contributes in delay andincreased mortality.
"Mostof these patients have underlying medical conditions... those get overlooked atthe Covid hospital for want of specialists and equipment.
"Weneed to revisit the existing protocol for shifting critically-ill Covidpatients to different hospitals," he added.