Lucknow: A proposal to display real-time availability of ventilator beds in govt hospitals has been sent to the govt by experts at King George’s Medical University (KGMU).Modelled on the Covid-19 dashboard that showed live availability of beds, ICUs and ventilators, the system is expected to help doctors and patients check status before reaching a hospital and reduce delays in emergency care.The proposal comes in response to gaps in the referral process. At present, patients from district hospitals, CHCs and PHCs are often sent without confirmation of ventilator availability, forcing attendants to move between hospitals in critical situations. KGMU submitted a proforma on the proposed system to additional chief secretary Amit Ghosh for consideration.Explaining the urgency, chief medical superintendent of the trauma centre at KGMU, Prof Premraj Singh, said, “Many critically ill patients reach us when no ventilator is available. In emergencies, every minute matters. We sent the proposal and will soon call a meeting of govt hospitals in the city to finalise the model.”The need for such a system is reflected in the current utilisation of resources. Officials from various hospitals said around 60-65 ventilators are lying unused in city govt hospitals due to a shortage of trained staff and specialists. At Lokbandhu Hospital, only 10 of 40 ventilators are functional as ICU work remains incomplete after last year’s fire, while Balrampur Hospital has 28 of 60 ventilator beds operational. Thakurganj Hospital and Rani Laxmi Bai Hospital also report limited utilisation.At the same time, tertiary centres such as Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, King George’s Medical University and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences together have around 500 ventilators but face heavy patient inflow from across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, often stretching capacity.Under the proposed system, district hospitals will be linked with major facilities, allowing doctors to confirm ventilator availability before referring patients.
