Bhubaneswar: Pioneering the Covid-19 battle in the country, Odisha government has planned to set up India's largest exclusive COVID hospitals with 1000 beds for treatment of Covid-19 patients. Such a unique initiative of Stand-alone COVID Hospitals is a first of its kind in India.
The CSR funding for the same will be given by Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC) and Mahanadi Coal Fields Limited (MCL).
Reportedly, a tripartite agreement was signed between Odisha government, corporates and two medical colleges of Bhubaneswar on Thursday to set up 1000-bedded COVID 19 facilities.
The two new facilities at SUM and KIIMS medical colleges in Bhubaneswar which would be operational in a fortnight will help in preventing transmission of the disease to others.
As per the agreement, SUM Hospital will set up a 500 bedded exclusive Covid-19 facility with 20 ICUs and KIMS Medical College would be setting up a 450-bedded hospital.
"I congratulate the partners and thank the corporates for coming forward and working in synergy in the interest of people of state," said CM Naveen Patnaik.
The Chief Minister has also directed to set up similar facilities for Covid-19 cases in other areas of the State.
Covid-19 has become a global pandemic in a short span of time affecting most of the States and Union Territories including Odisha. There was an urgent need to take up proactive steps to strengthen the healthcare system in the context of Covid-19 and provide dedicated health services to suspected and affected persons of Covid-19. The conventional standard response to handling this novel virus is inadequate. Even developed countries like Italy and USA having matured healthcare systems have found it difficult to respond to this unprecedented crisis. The global experience shows that Covid-19 patients need to be put under observation and treatment in a separate hospital instead of a general hospital, thus minimising the chance of transmission to others, which is why the State Government has taken this unique initiative to respond to this extraordinary challenge.