Ventilator situation

Amid the coronavirus outbreak in our country, a debate is going on about availability of ventilators. First of all, very few of corona patients need ventilators. Only those need it who already have respiratory illnesses like bronchial asthma etc. Doctors decide which patient needs it absolutely and there are chances of patient's survival. Beside this, there are many others factors which doctors consider before putting someone on ventilators. They also keep in minds medical ethics on when to use them and when to discontinue them. We do not have enough ventilators available; this is fact. But what we are doing with the available ones? In government-run hospitals it is very difficult to get vacant ventilators. In private hospitals, ventilators are available but they charge a high price. During this time, unnecessary panic buying of ventilators is not a wise decision. Many government officials have said that they have initiated the process for it. Before spending millions of rupees in this regard, the actual need should be consider first. This should be done keeping in mind this is not part of first line treatment of the coronavirus.

Dr Alfred Charles

Karachi