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Effect of Nation-wide Lockdown on Palliative Care Services in a Tertiary Care Centre in India: A Retrospective

A R Karthik1, Kanika Rustagi1, Seema Mishra1

  • 1Department of Onco-Anaesthesia and Palliative Medicine, DR. BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Indian Journal of Palliative Care
|October 22, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The COVID-19 lockdown in India significantly reduced patient visits to palliative care services, increasing patient suffering. Teleconsultations more than doubled, highlighting the need for adaptable healthcare models during pandemics.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Research
  • Public Health
  • Palliative Care

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems globally.
  • India implemented a nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • This lockdown impacted non-COVID patients, limiting their access to essential medical services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on patient flow in palliative care.
  • To compare patient consultation data from before and during the lockdown period.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective observational study was conducted.
  • Data from a tertiary care center in India was analyzed.
  • Patient flow in 2019 was compared with data during the lockdown period.

Main Results:

  • A drastic reduction in single-day averages for out-patients, in-patients, and consultation requests for palliative care was observed during the lockdown.
  • Teleconsultation requests more than doubled during the lockdown period.
  • The findings indicate a significant shift in healthcare seeking behavior and service delivery.

Conclusions:

  • While lockdowns help control viral spread, they can exacerbate suffering for patients needing non-COVID medical care.
  • Hospitals must adapt regular operations to meet patient needs while mitigating COVID-19 transmission risks.
  • Implementing flexible healthcare models, including enhanced teleconsultation, is crucial for managing patient care during public health crises.
Abstract

Keywords:
Coronavirus diseaselockdownpalliative care

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