Punjab comes up with COVID-19 management tool for healthcare workers

To reduce the mortality rate through a cohesive and coordinated approach dealing with all facets of the pandemic, the Punjab government on Thursday released an easy-to-understand Punjab COVID-19 Clinical Management Manual as a single reference point for all healthcare providers of the state.

Describing the Manual as a force multiplier for his government’s `Mission Fateh’, Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh said on its release that it would work as a bridge between the national protocol and the state's requirements on the COVID-19 management. It will give health care providers dealing with the care and management of Coronavirus positive patients easy access to the tools needed for better handling of the pandemic, added the CM.

Curated by an Expert Committee, the Manual incorporates easy to understand audio visual aids, colour coded assessment tools and referral criteria based on practical experiences, along with best practices in the clinical management of COVID-19 positive patients.

The Committee, headed by Dr KK Talwar and convened by well-known cardiologist from DMC Ludhiana, Dr Bishav Mohan, also comprises several other renowned medical practitioners from eminent institutes around the globe.

The manual caters to the treatment needs of all COVID cases – from mild and moderate to severe. For mild cases, it incorporates a self-assessment questionnaire and home-based tests to assess the progress of asymptomatic patients in home isolation. It carries an updated list of dedicated experts available in every district to assist the district medical team in dealing with cases which require expert care, to keep fatality as low as possible.

The document also addresses the mental health and well-being issues of COVID-19 patients, and has incorporated a collaborative platform of psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers as part of the management protocol.