MUMBAI’S FORTIS HOSPITAL, MULUND DISCHARGES 1ST COVID-19 POSITIVE PATIENT AFTER SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT

Mulund, Mumbai, 1st April, 2020: After successful treatment at Fortis Hospital Mulund, a COVID-19 patient has been discharged to return home, today. The 46yr old male who worked as a healthcare worker in the UK had recently returned to the country. He was admitted at the hospital on 25th March with complaints of Fever, sore throat and Upper Respiratory Tract infection. He was symptomatically treated in the isolation wing; he responded well to the treatment and went home after 7 days in the hospital. Medical teams counselled him about home quarantine care as per the Ministry of Health guidelines.

Dr Rahul Pandit, Director, Intensive Care, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, who leads the COVID-19 taskforce said, “On the occasion of our 1st COIVD positive patients discharge, I wish to bring to fore a few things – one, don’t panic, patients are being treated, they are getting better and are being sent home after full recovery. Second, all secondary and tertiary care hospitals should be prepared to deal with the patients who are coming in to seek treatment, much like us at Fortis. We readied our isolation wards, our ICUs and our screening centers within a few days, following protocols laid down by the governing & regulatory bodies. And lastly, it is important for the community to not stigmatize patients and healthcare workers. Ostracizing people who are seeking medical care is inappropriate; the fear of being ostracized is also stopping people from getting tested, which will further compound the problem. Also, ostracizing those offering medical care will only hamper patient care services. We earnestly encourage you to seek medical help early, if symptoms are seen”.

Speaking of the nature of preparedness to tackle COVID-19 positive cases, Dr. S. Narayani, Zonal Director, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said, “As the fight against COVID-19 continues, we are pleased to share that a patient admitted with us has been successfully treated for COVID-19 and has been discharged. We are working closely with the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) authorities and the Ministry of Health-Maharashtra’s healthcare delivery system to care for patients that are suspected to have COVID or those who are COVID positive. I would like to extend my gratitude to all healthcare workers, civic authorities, and the entire ecosystem that is collectively working to ensure safety of citizens while putting their own lives at risk. While we, alongside Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), are on the forefront of the war against COVID-19, we continue our commitment to emergency needs of the community”.

The COVID-19 taskforce put together by the hospital created a quarantine facility in the annex building, separate ICU set-ups and COVID-19 screening clinic, separate from the hospital building. The team working round the clock to ensure screening, diagnosis and treatment is – Intensive Care specialists Dr Rahul Pandit & Dr Charudatt Vaity, Infectious Disease Specialists Dr Anita Mathew & Dr Kirti Sabnis, Microbiologist Dr Sheetal Sawant & General Physicians Dr Sanjay Shah, Dr Naresh Mehta & Dr RK Modi.