The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to induct private establishments into the state machinery to build a better medical infrastructure against the emergent second wave of coronavirus. For this, the UP Minister for Medical Education Suresh Khanna has asked private universities to dedicate exclusive beds for patients. Reportedly, 2,000 additional COVID beds have been arranged across the state, with the help of private universities.
Amping up the COVID treatment infrastructure
Amid the unprecedented rise in coronavirus cases in the last 15 days in Uttar Pradesh, particularly in Lucknow, the Minister of Medical Education here has ordered private universities to provide beds for COVID patients. This move will open a higher vacancy of treatment beds for the infected patients, patching the crunch in the state medical infrastructure, in terms of the acute bed shortage.
The Minister also expressed his concern over the infection spike. He stated that cases were as low as 86 in March and now, it is over 15,000, adding that the government is doing its best to ensure proper treatment to all. Simultaneously, he has appealed to the public not to step out of home unless it is strictly required and follow all coronavirus protocols, even when they do.
He also inspected the newly- built cancer Institute on the outskirts of Lucknow on Tuesday and has asked designated authorities to ensure all beds except in the emergency ward and those already occupied are dedicated to Covid patients. Additionally, the state will also acquire private labs and hospitals to increase medical facilities to cope with the alarming coronavirus spread.
MBBS students to line up as COVID warriors
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister has decided to include fourth and fifth-year MBBS students in COVID management. As per reports, this emergency move has been announced following the cancellation of the medical examination due to the infection rise. “These students will now be deployed on Covid duties and this will ease the pressure on doctors to a considerable extent,” said a government spokesman.
