Common enemy, let’s fight it together: Tricity

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 11

Punjab, Haryana and the UT Administration have united to fight the common enemy of Covid-19 in the tricity.

After detailed discussions, it was decided at a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana and the UT Adviser that in case of emergencies anywhere in the tricity, the authorities concerned will provide oxygen, medicines and medical equipment such as ventilators to each other to avoid any untoward incident.

The meeting was convened by Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore in compliance of the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The High Court had on May 4 suggested Punjab, Haryana and the UT Administration to consider setting up a unified command centre for better Covid management in the tricity.

Pb, Hry Chief Secys, UT Adviser hold meeting

After detailed discussions, it was decided at a meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Punjab and Haryana and the UT Adviser that in case of emergencies anywhere in the tricity, the authorities concerned will provide oxygen, medicines and medical equipment such as ventilators to each other to avoid any untoward incident.

The senior functionaries decided that in addition to regular war room meetings, a committee comprising the Deputy Commissioners of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will meet twice a week online to ensure effective coordination in all Covid-related matters such as lockdown restrictions, hospital management, supply management and vaccination.

At the meeting, it was also decided that the Director, Health Services, of Mohali as well as Panchkula and Chandigarh will meet twice a week over video conference to decide a uniform and coordinated approach in medical treatment of Covid patients under the guidance and consultation of the PGI.

It was also decided to request the High Court for a separate quota of 5 MT of liquid oxygen exclusively for the PGI.

In his opening remarks, the Governor stated that there was already a well-established mechanism for coordination among the administration in the tricity, even before the pandemic.

In order to effectively tackle the pandemic, war room meetings are being held regularly under the Administrator, wherein senior officers of the UT Administration, senior doctors of all three medical institutions, including the PGI, and the Deputy Commissioners of Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula participate in video conferences. Decisions are taken after consultation, exchange of information and ideas and communicated to all concerned promptly, he added.

The Governor said as a premier national institution, the PGI had been catering to the critical medical needs of not only Chandigarh residents but also of several states such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Uttarakhand by establishing a regular coordination mechanism and it had been ensured that there was no shortage of oxygen and medicines such as remdesivir. Senior PGI doctors were also regularly guiding medical teams in other government hospitals in Chandigarh and Punjab in the treatment of Covid patients.

Badnore said he was in regular contact with the Chief Ministers of Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for a coordinated fight against Covid in the region.

The Chief Secretaries of Haryana and Punjab and the UT Adviser concurred with the observations of the Governor and reiterated their commitment for a coordinated fight against the pandemic.

Key decisions to tackle pandemic

• In case of emergencies, the authorities will provide oxygen, medicines, medical equipment such as ventilators to each other to avoid any untoward incident
• A committee comprising the Deputy Commissioners of Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali will meet twice a week online to ensure effective coordination in all Covid-related matters such as lockdown restrictions, hospital management, supply management and vaccination
• The Director, Health Services, of Mohali as well as Panchkula and Chandigarh will also meet twice a week to decide a uniform and coordinated approach in the treatment of Covid patients under the guidance of the PGI
• The authorities will request the High Court for a separate quota of 5 MT of liquid oxygen exclusively for the PGI