SHIMLA: Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday while reviewing the covid-19 situation with
district officers of Chamba said that the State government would ensure the availability of best
health infrastructure to cater to the needs of the Covid patients keeping in view that it was an
aspirational district and difficult from geographical point of view.
Jai Ram Thakur said that presently out of total 713 active Covid patients in the district, only
68 patients were in hospitals and remaining in home isolation. However, the government has asked
the district administration to increase bed capacity in Chamba district by over 200 beds in order to
meet out any emergent situation. He said that this would not only provide timely treatment to the
patients but also save them from going to other districts for treatment.
He said that there was no dearth of oxygen in the State and only issue was availability of
empty gas cylinders. The State has urged the Central government to provide additional D-Type
cylinders. He said the PSA Oxygen plant in Chamba would start functioning within a week which
would meet the demand of oxygen in the district. In order to facilitate smooth transportation of
cylinders, district wise mapping of oxygen manufacturers would be done so that oxygen could be
supplied to the required district from the nearest point. He said that this would not only save
precious time in transportation but also ensure timely supply oxygen.
Mr Thakur said that the State Government would also ensure adequate staff in health
institutions of the district by outsourcing the staff. He said that Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru
Government Medical College, Chamba would be strengthened by providing adequate men and
machinery. MRI and CT Scan facility would be provided in the medical college soon to facilitate the
patients of the district.
He said that the State Government was committed to strengthen the mechanism of home
isolation as about 90 percent patients of Covid-19 were in home isolation. He urged the medical
fraternity to ensure constant vigil and regular monitoring of health parameters of the patients in
home isolation so that if need arises, they could be shifted to hospitals immediately. He also urged
the elected representatives of PRIs and ULBs to extend their full support in taking care of these
patients.
Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal also addressed the meeting virtually from Shimla.
Health Secretary Amitabh Awasthi while joining the meeting virtually from Shimla said that
additional staff would be provided for ensuring effective movement of ambulances. He also asked
the district administration to provide proposal regarding required staff so that patients do not face
inconvenience for want of staff.
Deputy Commissioner Duni Chand Rana made a detailed presentation regarding Covid-19
situation in Chamba district. He said that Covid-19 patients in the district were being provided Covid
treatment in six places having total bed capacity of 275. He said that efforts were on to increase the
bed capacity by over 105 beds. As many as 713 active cases were active in the district and about 1.13
lakh people had been administered vaccination.
He informed that the oxygen production unit would soon start functioning in Chamba
medical college with capacity of refilling about 100 cylinders per day. He urged the Chief Minister
for providing additional ambulances keeping in view the difficult topography of the district.
Later, the Chief Minister also visited the construction site of Chamba medical college and
directed the executing agency to speed up the construction work.