Country’s first Plasma Bank inaugurated
On 2 July 2020, CM Arvind Kejriwal inaugurated India’s first plasma bank at the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS) to ease access to plasma that is being used as a trial to treat Covid-19 patients. The bank will coordinate with patients who have recovered from Covid-19 and are eligible to donate plasma.
<Source: The Indian Express>
New hospital in Ambedkar Nagar
On 10 Aug 2020, the AAP govt made operational 200 beds of the new hospital for Covid-19.
In the previous month the Delhi govt had inaugurated a 700-bed hospital in Northwest Delhi’s Burari, which has 450 beds dedicated for Covid patients.
Delhi’s Government schools converted to Covid Care Centres
On 19 Apr 2021, the Rouse Avenue School was attached with LNJP Hospital. Arrangements were made for oxygen beds.
The following day, Health Minister Satyendar Jain and Deputy CM Manish Sisodia visited Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital in Rohini. They instructed the authorities to add 400 more beds and directed them to handle Covid-suspected patients more efficiently.
<Source: Satyendar Jain Tweet>
Temporary hospital with capacity for 500 ICU beds
Indira Gandhi hospital in Dwarka
A chronology of progress:
- 1997 – Land for Indira Gandhi hospital in Dwarka was bought by Delhi Govt
- 2014 – Construction starts for a 750 bed Hospital
- 2017 – Design remodelled to increase beds to 1500
- 2021 – On 3 Jun 2021, 250 beds out of 1500 starts as a COVID Hospital
<Source: Tweet by DaaruBaazMehta>
Creation of the Paediatric Task Force
On 5 Jun 2021, in anticipation of children likely to be affected in the next Covid wave, the AAP govt set up a Paediatric Task Force. This Task Force will decide how many of the oxygen and ICU beds should be for children. There will be separate equipment and oxygen masks for children’s beds.
The Sant Nirankari Ground Covid Care Centre
On 12 Aug 2021, in a major upgrade of a field hospital in Delhi, a 300-bed ICU facility, ventilators and a telemedicine centre were inaugurated by Health Minister Satyendar Jain at Sant Nirankari Ground Covid Care Centre in Burari.
This centre, which already has 800 regular Covid beds, has seen one of the highest recovery rates and will be provided knowledge support by 750 physicians of the British Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO).
Inauguration of Rapid Response Centre
On 25 Aug 2021 a Rapid Response Centre was inaugurated at Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital in the national capital.
The centre is a part of the preparations for the possible third wave of COVID-19.
Post-festival Covid surge preparedness
On 13 Sep 2021, anticipating a surge in Covid-19 cases after the festival season, the Delhi government said it was getting over two lakh beds and an additional 40,000 ones ready with ventilators in ICUs as part of its preparedness. Of the two lakh beds, 50% will be assisted with ventilators.
4 Private Hospitals Dedicated as Omicron Centres
Alongside Govt-run LNJP (Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital), on 18 Dec 2021, the Delhi Govt converted 4 private hospitals into Omicron dedicated centres. These were:
- Sir Ganga Ram Hospital
- Max (Saket)
- Fortis (Vasant Kunj)
- Batra Hospital (Tughlakabad)
The Delhi Government also informed that approximately 37,000 COVID-19 beds and 10,594 COVID ICU beds have been prepared and 100 oxygen beds can be set up in every ward of Delhi within two weeks of intimation.
Expanding testing capacity as per needs
On 24 Dec 2021, CM Arvind Kejriwal said his Government was keeping a close eye on the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the capital and was preparing to increase the testing capacity to three lakh per day from the current capacity of 60,000-70,000.
More Capacity Expansion
On 9 Jan 2022 another 5650 beds and 2075 ICU beds were added in 14 Delhi govt hospitals. As of then, 90% of beds are still vacant in hospitals as the admission rate was quite low compared to the previous wave.
