With resources of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) stretched to its limit, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday approved a suggestion to deploy those who have recently retired from it.
“All health facilities of the Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSU) and the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) have been allowed to provide health services to local COVID-19 affected civilian population,” Mr. Singh said on Twitter. He said this after chairing a meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chiefs of the Army and the Navy and other senior Ministry officials.
The Defence Ministry has also decided to give extension to Short Service Commissioned Doctors in the AFMS till December 31 and the move will augment its strength by 238 doctors.
The services of local doctors and health professionals might be enlisted for the 750-bed hospital in Varanasi being set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), a Defence Ministry statement said.
The DRDO said another 250 beds would come up by Saturday evening at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital in New Delhi, taking the number to 500, Mr. Singh said. A 1,000-bed hospital has become operational in Gujarat, he said.
DRDO Chairman Satheesh Reddy informed Mr. Singh that work is in full swing to establish a COVID facility in Lucknow that would become operational in the next 5-6 days. These hospitals would be run by the AFMS in coordination and with assistance of the local State governments, it said.
Transport aircraft of the IAF continued to ferry cryogenic oxygen tankers from filling locations to destinations across the country.
