Assessment of Island Wide Distribution and Requirement of Biomedical Equipment for COVID-19 Case Management in Government Hospitals of Sri Lanka

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, the critically ill patients of SARS-CoV-2 require mechanical ventilation as the virus (henceforth referred to as COVID-19), through a variety of mechanisms, disrupt the capacity for oxygenation of the infected. The availability of Oxygen for patients through mechanical means is thus an essential means of treatment, required for the effective management of COVID 19. Ergo, it is understood that all the COVID 19 treatment centers should equipped with pulse oxygen meters and a functioning oxygen supply system including single use oxygen delivery interfaces. In the Sri Lankan context however, the correct number of the available equipment list was not available in the databases of Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka. It is understood that the availability of a database of essential equipment is essential as it allows policy makers to make effective decisions and prescribe actions by assessing the readiness of medical institutions in facing the pandemic. As such, the aforementioned Ministry and the Deputy Director General Medical (DDG) MS 1) collected information on essential medical equipment in each relevant institute through a web-based system. The objective of this assessment was to collect information of medical equipment related to the efficient and effective management of COVID 19 patients of Government Hospitals. This assessment collected data only from the State of Sri Lanka, and as such, the subsequent terms Ministry of Health and Government Hospitals refer to the Ministry of Health Sri Lanka, and Government Hospitals in Sri Lanka, unless stated otherwise.