The Goa government will prepare a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure that all COVID-19 patients, whether with mild, moderate or severe symptoms, get oxygen on time in state-run facilities, the Health Minister has said.

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The Health Minister made the statement after chairing a meeting of an expert committee that on September 17 reviewed the COVID-19 situation in Goa which is witnessing a rise in positive cases. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to be developed to ensure all patients, whether mild, moderate or severe, get oxygen on a timely basis, an official statement quoted the Health Minister as saying after the meeting. He said patients coming to the Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) with coronavirus symptoms are to be treated in the COVID-19 ward of the facility without any delay.

Anaesthesia technicians that are being trained will be deployed to monitor oxygen supply to patients either in the ward or remotely, he said. Maintaining that no preferential treatment would be given to anyone, the Health Minister said, Beds are to be made available to all patients in need - no VIP culture. He said nodal officers at COVID-19 hospitals are the final authority on discharging patients. The government has notified GMCH, District Hospital andESI Hospital, both in Margao, and Sub-District hospital at Ponda as COVID-19 treatment facilities.