Makeshift hospitals to come up in 2 dists

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 1

In order to further ramp up the existing health infrastructure and create more hospital beds for critical patients, the Punjab Government will set up two makeshift hospitals equipped with the ICU facility for Covid patients in Mohali and Bathinda. Besides, nine smaller hospitals at various district hospitals would come up in the state.

This was stated by Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan after chairing a meeting with officials here on Saturday. She directed the Medical Education and Research department to make functional both hospitals by the month-end.

Principal Secretary Medical Education and Research (PSMER) DK Tiwari said 2.66 acres near the Bathinda refinery and 23,000 sq ft land in Mohali had been identified for the purpose and both hospitals would have the capacity of 104 beds each. The lifespan of these hospitals would be 25 years.

The implementation partner for raising the Mohali hospital would be PSA-PM/ IITM through CSR funding and Mohali medical college would ensure coordination and procurement of equipment. For Bathinda, implementation partner CSIR/CBRI would work with HMEL to ensure equipment procurement.

PSA-PMO Dr Sapna Poti said field survey had been done in Mohali to set up the hospital within three to four weeks by using Madras IIT’s innovation which has already been replicated at eight places. “Support of Murugappa/ Tata groups is being taken to ramp up the facilities,” she said.

Col Jasdeep Sandhu, Director, Civil Military Affairs, Western Command, said he had visited the Mohali site and felt the need to utilise the existing beds promptly as the field hospital unit could move in three days.

Ready by May-end

• The two hospitals will have 104 beds each, besides ICUs, and will be ready by May-end
• Nine smaller facilities will also come up at various district hospitals