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New Delhi : Union Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on April 4, 2020, visited Lok Nayak Jaiprakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital to take stock of preparedness to overcome COVID-19.
He visited the fever ward, new surgical ward block, Dietary Department, Special Ward, Corona Screening Center, Corona Care Unit and I.CU. After a review and inspection of various wards and premises of the Hospoital, Dr Vardhan expressed satisfaction and commended working of the departments and appreciated the dedication and hard work of the frontline health workers deployed there. ‘The country is grateful to you for your services in such times,” he stated. He further exhorted them for following proper infection control protocol at the hospital.
Keeping in view the emerging requirement of isolation beds, he stated that the LNJP Hospital will function as dedicated COVID-19 hospital with adequate isolation wards and beds.
Dr Vardhan stated that the Government has identified 1,500 beds at LNJP and 500 beds at G B Pant hospital for COVID-19 patients. The doctors and health staff manning these wards are provided special facility for boarding and lodging at the nurses’ hostel on the campus itself and a hotel nearby to avoid the issues of transportation and prevent the exposure to their families. He also suggested to install a system of Tele-Medicine / Tele consultation for those patients who were availing of services at the hospital. The similar setup has already been commissioned at AIIMS, New Delhi, he added. He informed that the Government has already notified to facilitate digital prescription and medicine home delivery system.
On the availability of the PPEs, N95 Masks, and ventilators, the Health Minister said, “We have already placed order for sufficient quantity in order to meet the increasing requirement of the country in future times, if needed.” Various state governments already have enough numbers of PPEs – 4,66,057 & N95 – 25,28,996 masks – they are being supplied PPEs (in nos)– 1,54,250 & N95 – 1,53,300 (in nos) in the next few days itself.
On the issue of stigma against doctors and the frontline health personnel, he stated that the Home Ministry has taken cognisance of such incidents and advised the authorities to take stringent action under National Security Act . He also appealed to the general public and family members of the patients not to assault doctors and healthcare workers who have been devoting their precious life and time to protect the lives of corona affected persons, according to a PIB release.