From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Apr 23: The state government is taking steps to ensure a ten-fold increase in the availability of ventilators as directed by the chief minister, said health and family welfare minister Dr K Sudhakar in Bengaluru on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, he said make-shift hospitals were also likely to be set up in the compounds of the hospitals in the city to ensure the availability of beds for Covid patients for treatment.
File photo
Dr Sudhakar admitted that there was a shortage of oxygenated beds, intensive care unit beds and ventilators. The government proposes to create at least 2,000 additional beds in the make-shift hospitals that will be created, of which 800 beds will be attached with ventilators.
He said 250 ICU beds will be created in the compound of the Victoria hospital while another 150 to 200 beds ICU will be set up in another building. Make-shift hospitals will be created in the compounds of Bowring, NIMHANS, Rajiv Gandhi hospitals too.
Vials of Remdesivir injections were also being constantly supplied. In addition, the union chemicals and petroleum minister D V Sadananda Gowda has made arrangements for the supply of 25,000 vials of Remdesivir injections. Discussions have been held with Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and she has promised to supply 10,000 vials in the next 10 days and ensure arrangements to provide 50,000 to 60,000 vials by this month.
Central permission awaited for importing 2 lac vials of Remdesivir
In addition, the state government is making arrangements to obtain 2 lac vials of Remdesivir injections in one go from abroad, for which permission from the Centre was awaited. Once we get the permission, there will be sufficient availability of Remdesivir injections for the 15 to 20 days, Dr Sudhakar said.
The minister said some countries have already started witnessing Covid third wave and have announced lockdowns for one and half months. "We are still allowing most of the activities despite some restrictions. It is not possible to allow all activities uninterrupted as controlling the spike in Covid cases is more important. There is no point in politicizing every issue, he felt.
The health minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held a video conference with chief ministers of 10 of the most affected states, has suggested that steps allow and encourage home care and treatment for the people with minor systems or not so serious ailments. The Prime Minister has also advocated teleconsultation to avoid people rushing to hospitals and over-burdening the healthcare facilities.
Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has taken the advice of the Prime Minister seriously and has directed that arrangements ensure teleconsultations to treat patients with minor ailments, Dr Sudhakar said.
The minister said people undergoing home treatment for Covid care if the symptoms were not very serious could always call helpline number 1912 and necessary assistance will be provided.