As the country grapples with the second wave of coronavirus pandemic resulting in pressure on medical infrastructure, the Government has asked all the retired doctors of the armed forces to work in Covid-19 facilities near their respective homes.
Moreover, all the medical professionals now engaged in administrative duties in the armed forces will be deployed at the hospitals to enhance the capabilities of the hospitals.
These decisions were taken on Monday during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s review meeting of the Defence Ministry preparedness to fight the pandemic. Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat briefed him on the current status.
Modi also took stock of the ongoing efforts of the IAF to ferry oxygen containers from abroad besides ensuring a seamless supply of essential medical equipment all over the country through sustained airlift.
Incidentally, a C-17 transport aircraft of the IAF brought six Cryogenic oxygen containers from Dubai and offloaded them at the Panagarh airbase in West Bengal. Airlift for another six containers from Dubai is planned for Tuesday. The IAF had airlifted four such containers from Singapore two days back and offloaded them at Panagarh.
Giving details of the Prime Minister’s review meeting, an official saidall medical personnel who have retired or have taken pre-mature retirement in the last two years are being recalled to work in COVID-19 facilities within proximity of their present place of residence.
Other medical officers who retired from the armed forces earlier than two years were requested to make their services available for consultation through medical emergency helplines, they said.
Rawat apprised the prime minister that oxygen cylinders available with armed forces in various establishments will be released for hospitals.
Modi was also informed that all medical officers on staff appointments at Command, Corps and Division Headquarters and similar setups of the Navy and Air Force will be employed at hospitals.
“The CDS informed the prime minister that nursing personnel are being employed in large numbers to complement the doctors at the hospitals,” officials said.
Rawat also informed the Prime Minister the armed forces are creating medical facilities in large numbers and military medical infrastructure will be made available to civilians, where ever possible.
Modi also discussed with Rawat that Kendriya and Rajya Sainik Welfare Boards and officers posted in various headquarters in veterans’ cells may be instructed to coordinate the services of veterans to extend the reach to the maximum extent possible, including in remote areas.