Kolkata: Medical facilities are under severe strain in Kolkata as there is a serious shortage of beds at hospitals for dengue patients, and both private as well as public hospitals have been fully occupied.
The hospitals are running out of beds at a time when the city is witnessing the worst dengue outbreak in recent years. More than 700 people have tested positive for the virus while more than 1000 have shown dengue-like symptoms.
"This is a crisis. As it is we get so many patients. Private hospitals don't have that many beds. The health infrastructure is getting challenged," said Dr Alok Roy, chairman, Medica Hospital.
Even at the oldest private hospital in Kolkata, there are no beds in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), surgeries are being postponed and patients are being discharged early.
"We are facing a major challenge. We are not being able to give bed to our patients because most beds are occupied by dengue patients," said Rupak Barua, CEO, CMRI.
Reacting to the crisis, the government has said that its hands are tied.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "I have received complaints that some private hospitals are putting up fake notices that there are no beds. Please don't do that, be humane."
With overburdened private hospitals and already cramped government hospitals and clinics, the city's health infrastructure is getting seriously challenged by the deadly virus. With more and more cases of dengue reported everyday, the crisis of beds in Kolkata is assuming grave proportions.
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