In recent days, the armed forces have stepped up their efforts to support the fight against the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
On Wednesday, the Indian Army issued a press statement detailing its efforts. One of the efforts is the expansion of COVID-19 response facilities at the Base Hospital Delhi Cantonment (BHDC). The Indian Army statement said “the entire hospital has been converted into a Covid hospital with comprehensive arrangements for providing critical care to all incoming patients”.
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The Indian Army explained, “At the start of the current COVID wave, the Base Hospital catered for 340 COVID beds of which just 250 beds were oxygenated. This resource was being severely stretched for additional capacities due to exponential rise in COVID cases... A plan was quickly put in place to expand the capacity to 650 COVID beds of which 450 beds will be oxygenated by 30 April 2021. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is also being enhanced from 12 beds [to] 35 ICU beds by 29 April 2021. Next phase of expansion will see the present capacity being augmented to 900 oxygenated beds by the second week of June 2021.”
The Indian Army has constituted a new COVID-19 OPD, under a specialist medical team operating “round the clock for screening positive patients for home isolation, investigation, treatment advice and admission under a single roof”.
The Indian Army has also announced another unique initiative: A 'tele-consultancy' to provide medical advice. The tele-consultancy is already functioning, handling around 1,200-1,300 calls.
According to the Indian Army, the consultancy provides:
Telephonic consultation including provision of expert medical advice
Updates regarding admitted patients to relatives
Guidance regarding bed availability/admissions
COVID-19 test reports
Coordination of personal requests from patients/relatives
Information regarding COVID-19 vaccination
Serving military personnel, retired personnel and their dependents can avail of this facility by calling:
011-25683580
011-25683585
011-25683581
37176 (through Army line)
The Indian Army has reiterated a call to veterans “to extend full support and encourage military medical professionals who are performing their duties with utmost dedication and sincerity”.
