Large number of infected people boost hospital capacity

Officials at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (QKUK) say that following the Kosovo Government's decision, the Kosovo University Clinical Service (SHSKUK) is making the overall reshuffle of its capacities.

Reorganizing care capacities for coronary patients

Shpend Fazliu, spokesperson for QKUK, tells Radio Free Europe that within the Infectious Clinic, there are currently six beds in the Intensive Care Department, meanwhile in intensive care at Sports Medicine, there are 22 beds. According to him, the Pulmology Clinic is also packed with patients who are confirmed by Coddy-19, but there are those who expect lab analysis confirmation.

“At the Infective Clinic, we can't have more than six beds because the capacity of Intensive is only six beds. We have considered the possibility of increasing the capacity for 12 beds in Sport Medicine. So out of 22 now, let's make 34 beds. We also have other areas. The Neurology Clinic has an intensive unit that can be exploited in a certain number. In the future we will think, depending on the situation, even expanding other capabilities”, Fazliu says.

He adds that regional hospitals in Kosovo, all have their own intensive care units. But, according to him, patients in general hospitals have been with easier pathology, and most have not needed intensive treatment but only oxygen therapy. In cases where patients need introductions, then, he says, from regional hospitals they move to KKUK.

Fazliu pointed out that for now, and for a longer term, QKUK has sufficient respiratories and equipment, not specifying their number.

According to him, currently, at QKUK clinics, 212 beds are available for patients infected with coronary in general, of which, 113 beds at the Infectious Clinic, 65 beds in Dermatology and Pulmology clinics and 22 beds in Sports Medicine.

The plan to expand capacity, says Fazliu, envisions increased beds and other clinics, as well as 37 beds in Neurology, in Psychiatry 30 beds, 14 beds in Otorinolaringology, while two operating halls of Laparascope can be introduced as special spaces for treating cases with COVID -19. Capacity, according to him, can also be expanded to general regional hospitals, which currently have 315 beds that are being used for coronary - infected patients.

“Since Monday, the possibility of adding these beds is for 130 more”, Fazliu points out.

Heart: even KSF hospital use under consideration

The Minister of Health of the Government of Kosovo, Armend Zemaj, questioned by the media whether there will be a license of private hospitals for dealing with coronary patients, has declared on Friday, currently under reviewing all options.

Currently, we are in an organization of all capacities, the possibilities our clinics offer, not only here in Pristina, but also in regional hospitals. Yesterday I also contacted the Ministry of Defence, and today health professionals will meet and see the Kosovo Security Force Hospital, if we need it to be offered for use, as it is new, complete and untapped”, Zemaj has declared.

Baftiu: No patient has suffered due to lack of country in intensive treatment

Currently, the capacities of intensive treatment at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (QKUK), according to health officials, are relatively good.

Nehat Baftiu, director of the Anesthesia and Intensive Medicine Clinic, says but Radio Free Europe, which so far, QKUK has had good management. But because of the massive influx of coronary patients, Sports Medicine has made its intensive 22 - bed department available during this week. Meanwhile, according to him, a space is already being prepared for the Alergology Clinic to accommodate a number of respirators.

According to him, until now, no patient infected with coronary has suffered because of the country's lack of access to intensive treatment.

We've had increased capacities. We, like the Committee (for COVID-19 of CKUK), have worked hard to organise the bedwork in intensive treatment and have had enough room and beds for seriously ill patients. No patient has died because there has been no place in intensive care”, Baftiu points out.

However, he says there are currently many people in Kosovo infected with coronarys, and according to him, the number of infected is greater than described by the results that have emerged from the tests. As he says, in recent days, according to the results published on daily bases by the Kosovo National Institute of Public Health, about 50 percent of the test shows positive.

Coronavirus - infected health personnel increase the challenge

Despite this, however, according to Baftiu, in the coming days no greater flow of coronary patients is expected than the current flow.

I don't think there's gonna be any bigger flow. Three days ago it was the largest number of beds filled with intensive treatment. So 23 in Sports Medicine and 6 in Infective. Meanwhile, today in Sports Medicine it is 22, while there are 3. One major problem is that health personnel, anesthesiologists, anesthesiology technicians, who are working, are becoming positive. Currently, we have about 16 technicians and doctors who are positive, inside the Anastasia Clinic, so within two weeks”, Baftiu points out.

But, KKUK spokesman Fazliu says that under the reshuffle, the Pulmology Clinic, the Infectious Clinic, Emergency and Sports Medicine will be reinforced with additional staffs of nurses and doctors from general or regional hospitals.

We've already taken 4 anesthetics and brought them to QKUU. The same is expected to happen with 3 fluloges, but also with communityologists, as long as they are able to help the QKUK, because it is heavier than 7 other general hospitals”, Fazliu points out.

More than 350 people of the medical staff infected with coronarys

Blerim Syla, chairman of the Health Workers Union, says that within the framework of the public health system, from March 12th to July 9th, 352 people belonging to medical staff and nursing staff have been infected.

Their “, over 50, are cured and active, 257”, Syla says.

He adds, however, that the number of medical and nursing personnel who have been isolated due to suspicions that they may be infected with coronarys is very large, but that such statistics have failed to determine.

Syla points out that if the Government of Kosovo does not allocate sufficient tools for providing protective equipment for medical personnel, the actual amount of these equipment, according to him, is insufficient in the face of the growing number of coronary patients, as well as the actual amount of protective equipment that are being spent.

According to a 24-hour report from QKUK clinics and 7 general hospitals under KSFUK, on July 10th, 282 patients confirmed positive with COVID-19 are in all of these health institutions.

According to the report published on July 9th by the Kosovo National Institute of Public Health, the total number of positive cases with coronarys since March 13th in Kosovo is 4,307 cases of 26,916 suspicious people in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In contrast, 94 cases of death have been recorded. The total number of cures is 2095, meanwhile 2,18 cases are active.