NEW DELHI: In a boost to health infrastructure in the capital, a 200-bed Covid hospital at Ambedkar Nagar in south Delhi was inaugurated by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday. Out of the planned 600 beds, 200 with oxygen supply have been made operational. The bed capacity and ICUs would be enhanced in the coming days.
“The Covid situation in Delhi is under control to a great extent. The parameters are good, the recovery rate is improving and the positivity ratio and death rate are decreasing. There are fewer patients who require hospitalisation,” said Kejriwal, adding that Delhi government was fully prepared to handle the pandemic, which was unpredictable as no one knew what might happen tomorrow.
Observing that the new hospital would not only serve the people of the area, but also prove to be a huge support to Delhi’s health infrastructure, Kejriwal said, “There was no big hospital in this area and nearby constituencies. The idea of constructing this facility was conceived in 2013. I’m happy that it has now been inaugurated. The 200 beds will be of great help in treating Covid patients.”
Compared with the initial months of the novel coronavirus outbreak, Delhi government had increased the number of Covid-designated beds multiple times. On July 26, a 450-bed hospital was opened in Burari.
“We have increased the bed capacity of hospitals in the city. The new hospital in Ambedkar Nagar is a step in the same direction. I want to congratulate the people of Delhi and recognise the efforts of those who made it possible to get this hospital inaugurated a few months ahead of schedule,” said the chief minister.
In the second week of June, the authorities were concerned about arranging for hospital beds because the number of Covid cases was rising fast. An estimate by Delhi government using a central government website had shown that 5.5 lakh cases would be witnessed by the end of July. In such a scenario, Delhi would have needed 80,000 beds. Subsequently, more beds were created by linking hotels, private hospitals, expanding the capacity of existing healthcare facilities and increasing the number of ICU beds in them.
Of the 13,527 Covid beds available in government and private hospitals, 10,443 beds were vacant on Sunday. A large number of beds were vacant in Covid care centres because of the government promoting home isolation.
Ambedkar Nagar MLA Ajay Dutt said the hospital had come as a blessing for people because the area did not have a huge healthcare facility. “Even after the pandemic, the hospital will continue to serve people, many of whom have to go to private facilities for treatment,” Dutt added.