Chandigarh Administrator opens Army Covid hospital on varsity campus

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, May 10

As part of the continued fight against the unprecedented rise in Covid-19 cases, the Western Command today operationalised a dedicated hospital in Chandigarh to cater to civilian patients.

The 100-bed hospital, established on Panjab University’s Sector 25 campus under Operation Namaste, was inaugurated by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore, who went around the facilities and discussed its functional modalities with doctors and staff.

100-bed hospital

The 100-bed hospital has been established on Panjab University’s Sector 25 campus under Operation Namaste. The Army has deployed its doctors, nursing officers and paramedics for the holistic treatment of patients as per the ICMR guidelines and has provided service ambulances and trained personnel for the administration and management of the hospital.

The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen RP Singh, who was also present on the occasion, highlighted the efforts put in by the Army as well as the civil administration in the early operationalisation of the hospital. He assured the governments of of Punjab and Haryana, and the UT of continued support of the armed forces in the fight against Covid.

In addition, similar 100-bed facilities will also be operationalised by the Army under Operation Namaste at Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College in Faridabad and Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on May 11 and 12, respectively.

The three Covid care facilities, which will treat patients with mild to moderate symptoms, have been set up on a war footing in coordination with the civil administration of the respective states and the UT. The Army has temporarily relocated its field hospitals for the purpose.

The Army has deployed its doctors, nursing officers and paramedics for the holistic treatment of patients as per the ICMR guidelines and has provided service ambulances and trained personnel for the administration and management of the hospitals.

The civil administration, on the other hand, is facilitating essential amenities, service management, uninterrupted oxygen supply, patient admission and discharge processes and ambulance services at these hospitals.

The hospitals will also cater to basic laboratory, X-ray, pharmacy and catering for patients. The admission to these hospitals is open for all affected citizens and coordinated by the chief medical officers of the respective districts. On admission, ISO numbers will be issued to patients by the respective hospital management and the discharge will be on the recommendation of the Army medical officer treating the patient. Patients requiring higher grade of treatment will be shifted to other hospitals, coordinated by the CMO as per availability of ICU facilities.