Amid crisis, kin of patients wait for hours outside ITBP Covid Centre

Family members of the COVID patients are made to wait outside Delhi's Sardar Patel Covid Centre amid the oxygen crisis. Kin alleged that they have not been provided with accurate and proper information about the reopening of the hospital.

New Delhi:With Sardar Patel Covid Care Centre (SPCCC) in south Delhi yet to become operational with 500 oxygenated beds, people in Delhi are running from pillar to post to arrange hospital beds and oxygen.

The family members of the COVID patients alleged that they have not been provided with accurate and proper information as to when the Covid centre will become operational. Hoping that it will reopen soon, kin of patients are seen waiting outside the COVID centre for hours.

Family members claimed that there is a huge discrepancy in communication from the administration on the start of the hospital. A woman claimed that the oxygen level of her COVID infected patient has dropped low and they were informed that the hospital would become operational on April 25 but they are still waiting.

Another woman, whose brother is critically ill, said that nobody is giving accurate information about the hospital. He said they have been waiting for hours to get the patients admitted to the hospital.

Earlier, the administration informed that the hospital would be operational last week. However, the latest official statement said that the SPCCC will be operational from 10 a.m. on Monday.

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The Union Home Ministry has asked the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) as the nodal force to manage the centre at Radha Soami Beas, Chhatarpur. The ITBP said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for admission of patients will be strictly followed and all laid-down protocols will be adhered to.

Patients will be referred by the District Surveillance Officer of districts and no walk-in admission will be made.

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The ITBP further stated that patients will be first reporting at the reception, after initial documentation, physical examination will be done and patients will then be admitted to the hospital at their allotted bed.

"A kit will be provided to them after their admission. All medical treatment, medicines, food and other facilities will be provided free of cost. Services of stress counsellors will also be provided," the ITBP said.

Earlier in the day, ITBP Director-General, S.S. Deswal reviewed the final preparations at the Covid Care Centre, which will initially have 500 beds, with the number to be increased further.

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With IANS inputs