India launches 1st follow up clinic for recovered COVID-19 patients

A health worker wearing protective suit collects a swab from a suspected COVID-19 patient at a hospital in Chennai, the capital city of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, April 13, 2020. (Str/Xinhua)

Authorities in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu have launched a post-COVID-19 follow up clinic for patients who recovered from the infection, officials said Thursday.

The clinic has been opened in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu.

The clinic, launched by the state health minister C Vijayabaskar at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on Wednesday, is exclusively meant for people who have recovered from the viral infection and later suffer from other diseases, an official said.

According to the state-run broadcaster All India Radio, the clinic is the first of its kind in the country.

Those who were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit or with comorbid conditions or those who faced breathing difficulty during the COVID-19 treatment from across the state can register themselves for services at the facilities.

At the post-care follow-up clinics, patients can undergo various diagnostic tests and medical investigation by specialist doctors after 28-days of their discharge.

The clinic was set up after reports said some of those who were treated for the infection complained about heart diseases, renal failure, and fatigue.

Officials said similar clinics are being planned in Madurai and later in all major medical college hospitals across the state.

Tamil Nadu is the second worst-hit state in the country with 355,449 COVID-19 cases including 6,123 deaths.