The Punjab government has started preparations on a war footing to fight the second wave of Covid-19 infection. The state government is going to build two large temporary hospitals equipped with ICU facility in Bathinda and Mohali. Apart from these, nine additional small hospitals will be constructed at different locations in Punjab. The land identification work for these hospitals has started, which would remain operational for 25 years.
Principal Secretary Medical Education and Discovery (PSMER) DK Tiwari told Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan in a high-level meeting that both the hospitals would have a capacity of 104 beds. A 2.66-acre land near refinery in Bathinda and 23,000 sq ft land in Mohali has been identified for this purpose. Funds have been arranged for the commissioning of Mohali’s hospital. The synergy and purchase of equipment will be made by Mohali Medical College. Bathinda will work with HMEL to procure equipment for the hospital.
The Punjab Chief Secretary said that there is a need to increase the number of beds in collaboration with the Western Command and will coordinate with the Department of Medical Education for traffic-related approval of the equipments. Colonel Jasdeep Sandhu, director of Civil Military Affairs, Western Command, said that he had visited the site of Mohali Hospital.
In addition to oxygen pipeline, water and power supply for Mohali Hospital, work has started for sewerage connection. Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Husan Lal said that in view of strengthening health facilities, places have also been selected in Mansa, Muktsar and Fazilka.
