Army operationalises first of 3 Covid hospitals for civilians in Chandigarh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 10

As part of the continued fight against the unprecedented rise in COVID-19 cases, the Western Command on Monday operationalised a dedicated hospital in Chandigarh for catering to civilian patients.

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

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 both, the Indian Army as well as the civil administration, in the early operationalisation of these Hospitals.  He assured the governments of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh of continued support of the Armed Forces in the fight against COVID-19.

In addition to this, similar 100-bed facilities will also be operationalised by the Army under Operation Namaste at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Medical College in Faridabad and the Rajindra Government Hospital in Patiala on May 11 and May 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 respective states and union territory. The Army has temporarily relocated its field hospitals for the purpose.

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