To bolster healthcare services and strengthen critical care capabilities across Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi Adityanath government has introduced a specialised training initiative for ICU professionals under the CARE-UP (Critical Care Advancement and Readiness Enhancement for Upcoming ICU Professionals) programme.

The first batch has already completed their training in Jhansi, while the training of the  second batch is currently underway. The programme is comprehensive, providing advanced training not only to doctors but also to nurses and lab technicians, aiming to bolster the state’s critical care capabilities.

Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Parth Sarathi Sen Sharma, said: “While all district hospitals in the state are equipped with ICUs, the lack of trained staff has led to the need for referring serious patients elsewhere. Despite having ventilators and oxygen facilities in these ICUs, their full potential cannot be utilised due to the shortage of skilled personnel. Recognising this challenge, the Yogi government took decisive action by initiating the training of doctors and paramedical staff in all district hospitals.”

He further explained that the Yogi government entrusted this responsibility to Prof Anshul Jain, head of the department of anaesthesia at Maharani Laxmi Bai (MLB) Medical College, Jhansi, who also serves as the director of MLB Paramedical College.

Prof Jain noted that in the first batch, 10 staff members, including nurses and lab technicians, received training, along with Dr Abhishek Kumar Singh from Lucknow’s Civil hospital, five staff members from Lok Bandhu Hospital led by Dr Deepak Kumar Maurya, and staff from Jhansi District Hospital. As a result, the ICUs of all three hospitals are now fully operational, providing critical care to serious patients.

Director-General of Family Welfare Dr Narendra Agarwal said that in the second batch, doctors from Gorakhpur, Banda, and Prayagraj district hospitals were currently undergoing training.

Similarly, doctors from other district hospitals will also be trained in ICU operations in phases. The goal is to have all ICUs fully operational by the end of next year.

“Our aim is to equip as many doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff as possible with the skills needed to effectively use ventilators and other modern medical equipment. This will ensure that the people of the state receive improved healthcare services while also reducing their financial burden,” he added.

Meanwhile, ICU incharge, Lok Bandhu Hospital, Dr Deepak Kumar Maurya claimed that the training had yielded significant benefits, with an 11-bed ICU now operational at the facility. In the past month alone, over 150 patients had been admitted and treated there. “The newly trained staff is effectively managing ventilators and other equipment, ensuring that patients receive seamless care,” he added.

ICU incharge, Civil hospital, Dr Abhishek Singh said that all the staff who participated in the training had gained considerable expertise.

“Staff nurses are now proficiently operating ventilators and other equipment, leading to significant benefits for the patients. As a result, the number of patients in the ICU at the hospital has increased over the past month,” he added.