“The Swasthya Bhavan helpline is inundated with calls. Many are complaining they are unable to reach the number. This new portal on beds will hopefully help people as they will be able to see the number of vacant beds and apply for admission,” said a senior health official.
Senior health department officials held a meeting with all private hospitals, who were told to update their bed status, based on vacancies. Government Covid hospitals, too, were asked to engage data-entry operators who would keep updating the portal with bed availability.
Called the West Bengal Integrated Covid Management System, health officials said the government initiative was aimed at facilitating better monitoring and coordination of patient admission. “In addition to data on beds, efforts are also being made to provide information on oxygen, by tracking production and distribution, stock at different hospitals and their requirements,” said the official.
Anyone looking for a hospital bed will have to open https://excise.wb.gov.in/CHMS/Portal_New_Default.aspx. Once the webpage opens, users will come across an option, showing the availability of beds. A click on the button will direct users to the district, in which they are looking for treatment. Once the district is selected, a list of hospitals, both private and government, will come up, based on the availability of beds. Applicants will get an option to fill an online admission form for each hospital. They will have to register with a mobile number where an OTP will be sent for verification.
Unlike the centralised Swasthya Bhaban helpline, this portal will have the individual helpline of every hospital, where patients or families can also call up. The portal will also have information on ambulance and its availability. The centralised helpline will be operational simultaneously.