J&K govt decided to convert 11 major hospitals as sanatoria for suspected patients

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to convert 11 major hospitals into COVID-19 sanatoria to treat suspected patients away from public gaze.

In the Valley, officials said government has decided to convert SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, CD Hospital Srinagar, JLNM Hospital, Srinagar and Police Hospital, Srinagar entirely for isolation purposes.

The newly constructed blocks in district hospitals in Ganderbal, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kupwara will also be used for stepping up isolation bed capacity.

In Jammu, Gandhi Nagar hospital, GB pant hospital, Satwari and Psychiatric Hospital will be converted into an isolation centres.

The decision was taken in a review meeting which was chaired by Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education Department Atul Dulloo.

“The government has decided to close routine activities in identified hospitals and convert others into isolation and quarantine facilities.

“Government has also decided to utilize the services of NHM/ISM doctors and Mid-level health providers (MLPs) from Health and Wellness Centre to augment the manpower on the ground.

“The meeting also decided that the walk-in-interview for the medical officers by the National Health Mission should be expedited on an urgent basis,” sources said.

Meanwhile, to allay the fears of parents about the well being of their wards presently placed in isolation centres after their arrival from professional colleges abroad, Shahid Iqbal Chaudhary, Srinagar district magistrate said, “Every single Srinagar resident in quarantine is my personal guest”.