Health Ministry Pushes States UT For Third Wave Prepardness
As India braces for the third wave of Covid-19, the Union Health Ministry has asked states and union territories to prepare well in advance. Medical facilities have been asked to keep themselves well stocked.
Apart from this, major emphasis is being given to infrastructure preparedness, creation of makeshift facilities, maintenance, and upkeep of emergency equipment, etc. For this, the health ministry has already asked states to look and erect temporary structures to support Covid-19 cases.
According to confirmed sources, Mr. Rajeev Bhushan is seeking states that should also look at establishing home isolation special teams to assist mild cases. Looking like a mounting pressure and urgency, Additional Secretary in the ministry Arti Ahuja wrote to all states, restating that it is expected that the work for re-establishment and re-commissioning of field and makeshift hospital facilities would have begun.
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States and Union Territories must have also started the exercise to repurpose the beds in public and private hospitals for COVID-19 cases to ensure maximum preparedness against another potential surge in cases, the officer said in the letter additional chief secretary, principal secretary, and health secretary of all states. “You may review this matter at your level regularly to ensure that in the eventuality of a potential surge in hospital admissions, the state and UT is not found wanting,” she stated.
Covid-19 care centers will be erected in hotel rooms and other similar accommodation that is to be linked to dedicated Covid-19 hospitals. These will work well for mild cases; she has further stated while speaking to the media. “It is imperative that logistical supplies like testing reagents and kits (both for RT-PCR and rapid antigen testing) are procured and maintained in ample supply to avoid any stock shortages, in case of a sudden increase in the number of cases. It is advised that these preparatory measures must be taken up with the highest priority and regular monitoring may be ensured,” she said.