A three-tier healthcare system to treat Covid-19 patients is the need of the hour in Bengal, a committee of experts proposed to the state government on Monday.

The 12-member committee set up by chief minister Mamata Banerjee and including doctors from several fields also suggested that Sagore Dutta Medical College and Hospital, instead of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, should be made the apex hospital for coronavirus cases in the state, sources said.

“Sagore Dutta Medical College is located in Kamarhati on the northern fringes of the city. Calcutta Medical College, on the other hand, is in a congested area in the heart of the city,” a member of the committee said. “So, we have proposed that Sagore Dutta hospital should be made the apex centre for coronavirus treatment because it has critical care units with ventilators.”

Chief minister Mamata Bannerjee, during a video conference with district officials on Monday, objected to setting up quarantine units and isolation beds in congested areas.

After the conference, she held a three-hour meeting with members of the expert committee. Doctors at the meeting proposed a three-tier treatment plan.

“Although the coronavirus has killed thousands across the world, data shows that about 80 per cent of the patients develop mild symptoms such as cold, cough and fever,” a member of the committee said. “But they will need medical care, observation and should be kept in isolation.”

For these patients, hospitals with basic facilities could be set up. “Health centres in blocks with beds, smaller hospitals and private nursing homes that don’t have critical care units can be used to treat them,” the doctor suggested.

The secondary healthcare units can treat patients with moderate complications such as respiratory distress who need oxygen support, the committee member said. They can be admitted to sub-divisional or district-level hospitals.

Those with severe symptoms such as respiratory or organ failure, would need apex hospitals with ventilators and other critical care facilities.“Apart from Sagore Dutta hospital, medical colleges and super speciality hospitals in the districts and big private hospitals in Calcutta and other towns should be used for these patients,” another member of the committee said.

Others pointed out that several districts did not have big government or private healthcare facilities. Critical patients would have to be taken to nearby facilities in such cases.

The experts also discussed with the chief minister the number of isolation beds available across Bengal. “We have to be prepared in case there is a spurt in the coming weeks,” a member said.

A treatment protocol will be devised for doctors treating coronavirus patients. An information centre will be set up at Nabanna where doctors would answer people’s queries.

A health official said the committee’s recommendations would be implemented.