After 19 out of the 20 beds gazzetted to cater for COVID-19 patients got occupied, Masaka Regional Referral Hospital Director, Dr Nathan Onyachi has asked the Ministry of Health to consider treating some Covid-19 patients from home.
Onyachi says the facility is becoming congested hence requires to create space to even treat patients suffering from other complications/ diseases.
According to Dr Onyachi, asymptomatic patients (who do not present the known signs of the disease) should be sent back home as doctors and nurses will keep monitoring the patients on phone and routine checks in case of any emergency.
“The patients we have especially youth below 35 years are spending most of the time in the ward playing music and dancing which has shot up our utility bills, such people can be monitored from their homes and we remain with patients who show serious signs, those in advanced in age and those on drugs with other serious ailments,” Onyachi.
The Health Ministry has always indicated that 50% of the confirmed COVID-19 patients are asymptomatic.