Health Care : Current Reviews

An integrated patient management system during COVID-19 pandemic in a low middle income country-Sri Lanka

9^th World Congress on Health Economics, Health Policy and Healthcare Management

April 17-18, 2023 | Paris, France

Ayesha Samankula*, Anver Hamdani, Indika Karunathilake, Nirmani Dissanayake and Thariq Gafoor

Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Health Care Curr Re

Abstract:

Sri Lanka is a lower-middle income country in the South Asian region. Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 response is characterized by a strong preventive approach with rational utilization of available resources. All patients who tested positive were managed at healthcare institutions initially. Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients were admitted to Intermediate Care Centres for monitoring, management and discharged in 14 days. The patients with critical symptoms, uncontrolled comorbidities and other complications were admitted to hospitals for closer monitoring and specialized management. Increase in number of cases and deaths were unprecedented. The number of healthcare workers available for the functioning of the system too declined with a significant proportion acquiring the infection and the remaining workforce on the verge of physical and mental exhaustion. The priority shifted towards triaging and identifying those who need immediate medical intervention at the earliest stage of the disease to reduce severe disease and death. A virtual triaging system for the identification and evacuation of those who needed hospitalization and to facilitate home management for mild and asymptomatic patients was proposed. Telemedicine system was introduced and an integrated patient management system was established via Short Message Services (SMSs) and telephone helplines. Four key stakeholders, the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), the Ministry of Health and National Ambulance Service were brought together with the cooperation and support of national telecommunication service providers. This system had a major impact on the management the pandemic in the country. Within two weeks of commencement, an increase the number of available beds in both the government and private sector was observed reduction in hospital admissions, oxygen dependency, comorbidities and death counts were noted. It also reduced the unnecessary exposure of healthcare workers to infected individuals. This innovative initiative from Sri Lanka utilized the volunteerism in a resource-constrained scenario during COVID-19 pandemic and harnessed the support from all stakeholders including underutilized sectors in the provision of healthcare, including information and communication systems. Keywords: Tele-health, Global pandemic, Patient helpline systems, Volunteerism.

Biography :

Ayesha Dimali Samankula did her post graduate studies in Health Sector Disaster Management in Sri Lanka in 2019-2020. She was a National COVID Coordinator in the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka from 2020-2022. She actively engaged in COVID-19 management and prevention tasks during this period. She currently works as a Vitreo Retinal Medical Officer in National Eye Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka. She Plans to do more studies on diabetes prevention and diabetes retinopathy prevention around the world in future.