New Delhi: As the number of coronavirus deaths are on the rise in the national capital, a Delhi government panel has recommended strengthening the mortuary capacity in hospitals by installing 'refrigerated containers' to store the dead bodies.
Recently, the Centre-run Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in the city procured a refrigerated container to store bodies after the available space in the mortuary was exhausted.
Last week, Dr Mahesh Verma who is chairman of the government panel along with Gyanesh Bharti, Commissioner South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and Dr R Verma, DGHS at the Union Health Ministry visited four major hospitals which are providing treatment to the COVID-19 patients.
These hospitals include - Lok Nayak Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, and Dr RML hospital.
A senior government official, upon conditions of anonymity, said: "Last Friday, the committee visited four big hospitals to see overall preparedness of these medical institutions running medical colleges. Apart from strengthening the number of beds, the Committee has recommended enhancing mortuary facilities to accommodate the dead bodies. Like, at RML, we found refrigerated containers a solution, and similarly, the committee has asked the state government to acquire them if the need arises."
"The committee has also recommended the government to create specific arrangements in each hospital such as--more human resources (HR), medical supplies, manpower including doctors, nurses, paramedics, technicians, etc," he said and added that strengthening of laboratories with COVID-19 testing facilities was also a part of the recommendation, as most of the state-run hospitals do not have the facility to detect coronavirus test, added the official.
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On May 2, the Delhi government had framed a five-member committee for COVID-19 management in the national capital. Their work includes- to see overall preparedness of hospitals in Delhi, augment health infrastructure, and any other area where the strengthening of infrastructure of health facilities is required for better management of COVID-19 in the city.