India takes ‘Whole-of-Government’ Approach against COVID-19
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare assert the need to prioritize and systematise all the combined efforts towards effective management. This effort is done to ensure availability of sufficient health care infrastructures in the States/UTs and, to meet the increased demand for providing proper care and treatment to COVID-19 patients.
During the previous year, to support the efforts of the States/UTs, the Central Ministries and Departments with hospitals under their direct control, or under the control of their PSUs, had prepared isolation beds and facilities (ICUs, ventilators, etc.) for the treatment of COVID19 patients. The present situation of sudden surge in the COVID cases across the country has called for a similar supportive action from all these Central Ministries / Departments, their PSUs, and the Hospitals under their control.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has requested all the hospitals under the control of Departments/PSUs to set-up exclusive dedicated hospitals or separate blocks within the hospitals (both for OPD as well as IPD care) for Covid Care, like they had done the previous year. Further instructions state that these Hospitals/Blocks should have separate entry and exit points for the proper management of COVID19 cases. They are also to provide treatment services including specialised care for the confirmed COVID19 cases. These dedicated hospitals or blocks must be equipped to provide all supportive and ancillary services including Oxygen supported beds, ICU beds, Ventilators, and specialised Critical Care Units (wherever available), laboratory services, imaging services, kitchen, laundry etc along with a dedicated health workforce.
Hospitals are also asked to coordinate with the respective health departments of their respective States/UTs, as well as, the District Health Administration of the States/Districts, where they are located. To do so, a Nodal Officer may be nominated from the Ministry / Department to ensure the necessary coordination with the States/UTs for this purpose.
