Home healthcare the new norm during milder Covid variant in Telangana

HYDERABAD: With the impact of Covid-19 infections — driven by Omicron — during the third wave being relatively mild, many are choosing to get treated at home unlike the second wave, when people had scrambled for oxygen and ventilator beds at hospitals.

This has resulted in a huge surge in demand for home healthcare services. Currently, more than 31,000 people are under treatment and isolation across the state. Several hospitals offering home healthcare packages are flooded with enquiries, especially from families with children, elderly and members with comorbidities.

“In the last three weeks, we have observed an huge rise in number of people seeking home healthcare. We are receiving 80-100 enquiries every day. This includes isolation packages, where we offer tele-consultation and isolation kits and also home healthcare packages where a nurse is offered to take care of the patient,” said Mahesh Joshi, president of Apollo Home Care.

With more number of children getting affected during the pandemic, several hospitals are offering specialised home healthcare packages for them.

“In this package, a child is assigned a nurse, who keeps the doctor informed about the status of the child. The doctor prescribes medicines accordingly. This apart, oximeter, thermometer and information booklet are offered,” said Dr Anupama Yerra, consultant pediatric intensivist at Rainbow Children’s Hospital.