Outpatient Management of 'Pneumonia' Patients is Conducted by Primary Health Care Facilities

Medical assistance and care for confirmed COVID-19 patients and those in close contact with them is provided by Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities, in accordance with the regulations approved by the Minister of Health.

Management of patients diagnosed with 'pneumonia' in an outpatient setting is carried out by PHC facilities based on the clinical guidelines for managing outpatient pneumonia established by the Minister of Health.

Through daily phone calls, PHC doctors conduct ongoing monitoring of COVID-19 patients and their close contacts. They inquire about the patient’s complaints, comorbidities, and provide information on organizing safe home care and maintaining personal hygiene, as well as instructing patients to contact their doctor immediately if their health condition worsens.

If symptoms appear in COVID-19 patients and their close contacts, the PHC doctor conducts a home visit to assess the patient’s or contact’s health condition on-site. If necessary, laboratory and instrumental diagnostic investigations are carried out according to medical recommendations.

During the home visit, depending on the severity of the patient’s condition and necessity, the PHC doctor makes a decision regarding hospitalization.

According to the regulations for organizing medical assistance and care for patients with coronavirus in an outpatient setting, the indications for hospitalization of COVID-19 patients are:

1. COVID-19 and pregnancy (in the presence of COVID-19 symptoms),
2. Moderate severity COVID-19 (pneumonia without hypoxia) and age over 60,
3. Moderate severity COVID-19 (pneumonia without hypoxia) and chronic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency states, cancer, obesity, chronic renal failure,
4. Severe COVID-19 pneumonia, indicated by the presence of the following signs along with high fever and respiratory symptoms:
   • Respiratory rate ≥30/min (in adults),
   • Blood oxygen saturation SpO2 ≤93%,
   • Infiltrates covering >50% of the lung field within 24-48 hours,
5. Critical conditions of COVID-19 (respiratory failure, septic shock and/or multiple organ failure, thrombosis/embolism).

Thus, we urge the public to follow medical advice, refrain from self-medication, and avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics. In the event of changes in health status, contact your PHC doctor immediately.