Coronavirus: Mumbai hospital says cancer patients at high risk, urges them to stay home

Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai has urged cancer patients to stay home as they face higher risk after contracting the novel coronavirus.

Cancer patients are on high risk due to lockdown and rapid spread of the deadly virus, said the hospital. Tata Memorial Hospital is strongly urging patients to not leave their home.

The doctors are also asking people to avoid unessential travel to the hospital and urged them to take advice online through its portal Navya Care. Therefore, cancer patients can get advice from experts online, without stepping out of their homes.

We believe that patients with cancer might be at an increased risk of Covid-19 because they are immunocompromised. This is why we are strongly advising cancer patients or their caregivers from undertaking any and all nonessential travel to Tata Memorial Centre. Tele-health has never played a more important role in saving lives, said Padma Shri Dr. Rajendra Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre.

On the Tata Memorial hospital website, there is a link given to Navya Care. All People have to register on the website.

Cancer patients have to upload their case paper, past medical test data and prescription of medicines.

Patients, who do not have website access or unaware about how to operate on the website, can contact experts on their mobiles and send the case papers via WhatsApp.

After the implementation of the plan, the online team of Navya Care will consult the doctors and forward their suggestions to subscribers within a couple of days.

According to Tata Memorial Hospital officials, if the patient is not needed to come to the hospital, they are asking them to wait till the lockdown is over.

However, if the patient needs urgent treatment, like chemotherapy or radiation or some other treatments, they are guided to the nearest NCG (National Cancer Grid). Here the patient can avail necessary treatments.

India has over 10 lakh new cancer patients every year who are at different phases of their cancer treatment. This means people are either being treated at hospitals or undergoing active treatment which demands multiple hospital visits in a month.

Tata Memorial Hospital, which receives a footfall of over 70,000 cancer patients every year, strongly advised cancer patients and their families to avoid unnecessary travel to the hospital and to postpone any OPD appointments at this time.

Overcrowding at the hospital will not only increase the risk of infections in cancer patients, but also the hospital staff and the cancer patients that are currently being treated at the hospital.

Read | Tracking coronavirus in India: Kerala, Maharashtra still India's Covid-19 hotspots

Also read | 10 coronavirus hotspots in India

You should read this | In coronavirus lockdown, focus on fomites to stop Covid-19

You may like this | Spread of coronavirus infection and science of cough and sneeze

Watch | What next after 21-day lockdown? Here are the possible scenarios