Even as a Central government team, after reviewing the COVID-19 situation in Manipur, recommended for the increase in the number of ICU beds for the novel coronavirus patients, the same is yet to be converted into work.
The Central government team led by Joint Secretary, VK Dewangan of Union Power ministry had visited the state to take the first hand knowledge of the COVID-19 situation in the last week of October. Among others, the Central team recommended for the increase in the number of ICU beds in the hospitals treating COVID-19 patients. However, the same is yet to be converted into work till date.
Admitting that the recommendation is yet to be converted into work, Manipur Health director K Rajo on Friday said that there is no increase in the ICU beds in the government as well as private hospitals having facilities to treat COVID-19 patients.
Addressing a weekly media briefing on COVID-19 situation, the Health director said that currently 45 ICU beds are available for COVID-19 patients.
Among the government hospitals, RIMS hospital has 17 ICU beds and 14 beds in JNIMS for COVID-19 patients. Among the private hospitals, there are 10 ICU beds in Shija hospital and 4 beds at Raj Medicity hospital, the Health director informed.
Mention may be made here that after assessing the COVID-19 situation and other facilities for treatment of the COVID-19 patients, the Central team had strongly recommended the state government to increase the ICU beds in the government-run hospitals.
The Central is reportedly planning to visit the state again in the next few days to assess how far the state government has converted their recommendations into work.
The Health director said that the state Health department has directed the authorities of RIMS and JNIMS hospitals to increase the ICU beds as per the recommendation.
“We have heard that the authorities have taken up steps for installation of the beds. However, till date, we have no information regarding the increment of the number of beds for admission of patients,” he said.
Another recommendation yet to be materialised by the state government is the opening of special isolation wards in all the district hospitals across the state.
The Health director said that works for opening the isolation wards are in progress.
NNN