From Our Special Correspondent
GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has decided to convert three medical facilities in the state to centres dedicated to treatment of coronavirus (COVID-19) even as no positive case for the pandemic has been reported from the state till date.
“In the context of Guwahati, Sonapur civil hospital will be converted into a hospital for coronavirus treatment. We have closed down the eye treatment department at Guwahati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for now, and the patients who were being treated there will be taken care of by Sankardev Nethrayala. We have also taken a decision in principle to convert Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital into hospital dedicated to coronavirus treatment,” state Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters here on Monday.
Sarma further said that OPD services in hospitals were restricted to emergency cases only while other patients have been asked to visit FRU model/district hospitals.
The minister said that the state was leaving no stone unturned in regard to preparedness against the coronavirus pandemic.
“I have extensively visited medical colleges of Assam in the past couple of days and four medical colleges now have COVID-19 testing facilities. The medical colleges at Barpeta and Tezpur will soon have similar facilities while isolation wards in all the medical colleges of the state have started the treatment protocol,” Sarma said. He further said that the medical and paramedical staff, besides all employees of the hospitals, are upbeat and motivated to serve people to the fullest extent possible.
“All elective surgeries (not involving emergencies) in the medical colleges have been suspended,” he said.
Regarding procurement norms, Sarma said that procedures have been relaxed with such norms waived by the Finance department. A committee of four top health officials has been constituted to procure any medical equipment as and when required.
He also said that for forced quarantine or isolation of patients, makeshift centres such as hotels and hostels of colleges and universities are being readied as a contingency measure to treat those with mild COVID-19 infections, particularly young patients.
“Deputy commissioners are on the job for identification of such centres in their respective districts,” the minister said.
He further said that all doctors, nurses and paramedics would be on duty in the headquarters and no leave will be granted to them during the period unless they have a serious ailment.