In a major decision, the Uttarakhand Government has decided to keep all the four Government medical colleges of the state reserved for treatment of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) patients. These medical colleges- the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC), Government Medical College Haldwani, Srinagar Medical College and the Almora Medical College would be converted into COVID-19 treatment centres, when required. This decision was one among various decisions taken by Uttarakhand cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday for combating the threat posed by COVID-19. Cabinet minister and State Government spokesman Madan Kaushik said that the secretary of medical health and family welfare has been authorised to shift the faculty members and doctors of these medical colleges that are not involved in treatment of COVID-19 to other hospitals temporarily. The cabinet also authorised the principals of Government medical colleges to appoint specialist doctors for a period of three months. The principals of these medical colleges have also been authorised to appoint 50 per cent more faculty members than their sanctioned posts for a period of 11 months. Similarly, the district magistrates (DMs) of all the districts have been authorised to recruit doctors on vacant positions for a period of three months. Kaushik said that the process of recruitment of 314 medical officers (MOs) by the Uttarakhand Medical Services Selection Board (UMSSB) is at present going on and 646 applicants have applied for these posts. The UMSSB has been directed to recruit more MOs if the candidates who have applied fulfill the edibility criteria. The State Government has also requested the Union Government to allow the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) in Dehradun and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh to conduct the test for COVID-19. At present the laboratory of Government Medical College Haldwani is the only facility in the state where test for COVID-19 is available.
In another decision, the cabinet decided to provide a sum of ruRs three crore each to the district magistrates of Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar, Nainital and Haridwar as an emergency fund to meet any exigencies arising out of spread of COVID-19. The DMs of remaining nine districts would be provided a fund of Rs two crore each for the purpose.
Kaushik appealed the people not to become panicky and follow the direction being given from time to time.
In another decisions, the state cabinet decided to give a bonus of Rs 20 per quintal on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 1,925 on purchase of wheat.0