PMA urges citizens to avoid unnecessary visits to hospitals

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi urged citizens to avoid unnecessary visits to health facilities as people can acquire the coronavirus.

A meeting of the PMA Karachi Executive Committee held at the PMA House in Karachi discussed the current situation regarding the coronavirus, and an advisory was released concerning preventative measures and precautions for community and healthcare providers.

The citizens visiting busy hospital OPDs are also at a high risk of acquiring the coronavirus due to the crowd. The PMA recommended patients as well as the general public to visit busy hospitals only in the case of dire need. People are advised to remain at home, avoid meeting with others, and washing hands repeatedly. If symptoms appear, contact doctors through the helpline and act upon his advice.

“Minimize patient crowds in public and private hospitals. Visit the hospital only in the case of an emergency. Do not gather at hospitals, clinics, or the offices of doctors. In the case of an emergency, marriage halls, schools, colleges, and premises like the Expo Centre can be used as quarantine and filter clinics. Two tests are used for the confirmation of the coronavirus, but both these tests should be performed following the advice of a doctor,” the advisory recommended.

The PMA Karachi also offered training volunteers and helping the government in all its endeavors to prevent and control the spread of the coronavirus in Pakistan. They suggested the government establish a helpline through which qualified doctors could advise patients regarding the coronavirus and its treatment.

The PMA Karachi appreciated the Sindh Government for taking the right steps and offered its cooperation regarding the campaign against the coronavirus. The PMA Karachi has designated an information cell to provide the correct information and prevent any rumors surrounding the coronavirus.

-MN Report