To ramp up the existing health infrastructure and create more hospital beds for the critical patients battling the devastating second Covid wave, Punjab Government on Saturday decided to set up two makeshift hospitals equipped with ICU facilities exclusively for Covid patients in Mohali and Bathinda. Besides, nine new smaller hospitals at various district hospitals were also coming up in the state.

Chairing a meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan directed the Medical Education and Research department to make functional both the new hospitals by the end of this month to ensure the best possible healthcare to the Covid patients in the state.

Principal Secretary Medical Education and Research (PSMER), DK Tiwari, apprised the Chief Secretary that 2.66-acre land near refinery in Bathinda and 23000 sq ft land in Mohali has been identified for this purpose and both the hospitals will have the capacity of 104 beds each. The lifespan of these hospitals will be 25 years.

The Chief Secretary emphasised that all beds must have oxygen support to enhance Level-2 and Level-3 beds. “The number of beds needs to be increased with the support of Western Command and permissions for movement of products will be coordinated by the Medical Education department,” she added.

Col. Jasdeep Sandhu, Director, Civil Military Affairs, Western Command, informed that he has visited Mohali site and felt the need of utilising existing beds promptly as field hospital unit can move in 3 days.

Principal Secretary Health and Family Welfare, Hussan Lal, said he has selected the sites in Mansa, Muktsar and Fazilka for strengthening the existing health facilities. Later, the Chief Secretary also reviewed the status of oxygen supplies and availability in the state.