Cabinet Secretary reviews state of COVID-19 preparedness in Delhi
Published By : Prameya News Bureau | May 02, 2021 IST
Share
New Delhi, May 2: Rajiv Gauba, Cabinet Secretary, Government of India, today reviewed various aspects of COVID-19 preparedness in Delhi. Officials of the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) made a presentation in the meeting, covering issues of recent trends in active cases, deaths and positivity rate; availability and expansion plans of medical infrastructure; status of oxygen availability; home isolation procedures and helpline; ambulance services; and testing. The meeting was attended by the Home Secretary, Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, Chief Secretary, Delhi and other senior officials of GNCTD, senior officials of the Union Health Ministry, and Commissioners of Municipal Corporations of Delhi and Chairman, NDMC. The Cabinet Secretary emphasized the need to ramp up the medical infrastructure in Delhi, at the earliest, to cater to the increasing demand for COVID beds, ICUs and ventilators. He also stressed the need to make available all relevant information on COVID beds and other facilities/ medicine availability to the public, through dedicated websites/ apps, on the basis of which people in need of such facilities/ medicines can approach the right place. A single helpline should be created at the front end, to provide relevant clinical information to the needy people, and should be popularized; the helpline can be serviced through a dedicated and well-staffed call centre. On issues related to availability of oxygen, the Cabinet Secretary expressed his anguish at recent instances, where people had suffered due to lack of adequate and timely availability of oxygen. He asked the Delhi Government to make all out efforts to lift their allocated oxygen, using all the means at their disposal; and also to ensure that the oxygen available to them is distributed rationally and in a transparent manner, so that there is no diversion or leakage. On the issue of adequate medical and healthcare human resources, he asked the Delhi Government to create flexible procedures to engage the services of retired medical professionals. Cabinet Secretary also asked for further augmentation of testing facilities and timely availability of test results. Union Health Ministry official stressed the need to restart the earlier practice of transparent electronic displays, at each hospital site, of the number of beds available in that facility for COVID patients. The Additional Secretary, Health also emphasized the need for setting up oxygen audit Committees in various hospitals and medical facilities. Dr. V.K. Paul emphasized the seriousness of the present situation and recommended that small nursing homes and hospitals be roped in for augmenting the medical infrastructure of the Capital. He asked for Covid Care Centres to be opened in hotels and similar places, as per the protocol. In order to supplement the 24x7 helpline of the Delhi Government, he recommended that the Delhi Medical Association be requested to offer around 50 doctors, who can voluntarily provide medical consultation to COVID-19 patients. The helpline/ medical professional can provide guidance on use of medicines, oxygen concentrators and other medical facilities.
News7 Is Now On WhatsApp Join And Get Latest News Updates Delivered To You Via WhatsApp
You Might Also Like
More From Related News
BJP Core Committee meeting begins in Delhi: Likely to announce candidates for Odisha Assembly segments
Kharge hits back at PM Modi's 'bullying a Cong culture' remark
Mukhtar Ansari dies of cardiac arrest in Banda, security tightened in UP
Lawyers write to CJI over group trying to ‘pressurise judiciary’
Delhi horror: 5-year-old kidnapped, raped & killed; accused held
LS polls: 2.54 crore voters for Phase 1 in Rajasthan; 13 above 120 years of age
Big shock for BRS as Hyderabad Mayor decides to join Congress
Nominations for 2nd phase begins in 13 Raj Seats
Government hikes wages of MGNREGA job card holders
NITA Football Academy emerges victorious in IWL-2 encounter
Arunachal was, is, and will remain an integral part of India: MEA
Govinda joins Shiv Sena in CM Shinde's presence; may be fielded from Mumbai North West
‘To browbeat and bully others is vintage Congress culture', says PM Modi on lawyers’ letter to CJI
Jhunjhunu LS constituency tops charts with highest centenarian women voters in Rajasthan
Excise policy case: Delhi court extends CM Kejriwal's ED custody till April 1
Heatwave conditions in Gujarat as several cities record around 40 degrees temperature
Sensex crosses 74K mark in 1000 points rally
Political conspiracy, claims Kejriwal while being taken to Rouse Avenue Court
Ladakh agitation intensifies as protesters threaten march to border with China
CM Kejriwal to be produced before Delhi court today as 6-day ED custody ends