Kerala: Considering the importance of following up on the recovered COVID patients, the Kerala government has decided to build up COVID 19 convalescent clinics to confirm that proper follow-ups are provided to the COVID victims after their recovery.
The authorities have decided that Post COVID management clinics will be established in several government facilities, from Primary Health centers to Medical College Hospital.
In the guidelines regarding the setting of the post-COVID clinics, the health and family welfare department of Kerala stated that " post-acute covid-19 is a multi-system disease, sometimes occurring even after a relatively mild acute illness. Post-acute covid-19 is defined as manifestations extending beyond 3 weeks from the onset of first symptoms and chronic covid-19 as extending beyond 12 weeks."
For some people, some symptoms may linger or recur for weeks or months following initial recovery. This can also happen in people with mild disease and people are not infectious to others during this time.
However, the authorities have noticed that most people with COVID-19, experience mild symptoms, or moderate illness. Approximately 10 to 15% of cases progress to severe disease and about 5% become critically ill. People recovered from COVID-19 after two to six weeks. But for some, symptoms may linger for weeks or months following recovery. Hence authorities have decided to give importance to post COVID management clinics. According to the guidelines, Post COVID 19 clinics should be set up in all PHC CHC, FHC, and Post COVID clinics are to be set up at THQ, DH, GH, and medical colleges. These clinics should function for referral patients.
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According to the implementation plan, Dy DMO shall be a nodal officer in the district for setting up and facilitating the clinics. The training division will prepare training materials and organize TOT and cascade of training to all medical officers. The online training module is prepared by a team of expert doctors. Post-COVID clinics shall be made operational in all the facilities at specific times on fixed days. All COVID-19 recovered patients in the field area shall visit the nearest clinics and be followed up on monthly basis as well.
The guidelines further instructed that the field staff and Asha workers are to be sensitized regarding post-COVID clinics and they shall mobilize beneficiaries to the concerned clinics. They will be responsible for maintaining the health status of the people who will visit the clinics so that they can be given necessary follow-ups. A team of expert medical professionals will be employed in different centers so that they can provide necessary assistance and treatment to the people in need.
This team of doctors will be formed to manager referrals from post-COVID clinics and a nodal officer will be identified and intimated to all doctors at the periphery. Patients requiring specialist follow-up such as pulmonary rehabilitation for lung fibrosis, neurological rehabilitation for stroke syndromes, ventricular dysfunction, cardiomyopathy, etc, will be referred to specialist services at the district or general hospitals or medical college hospitals. The Kerala government has also decided to use the platform of telemedicine at an initial level so that anyone can obtain specialist consultation from different centers.
The authorities have also confirmed that a register needs to be maintained by every health institution with one page dedicated to each individual attending post-COVID clinics. The DHS and the DME have been instructed to issue necessary orders and monitor the implementation of activities. The guideline was issued by the principal secretary of the health department of Kerala on 28 October 2020.
To access the official guideline, click on the link below-
https://.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-141654.pdf