Indian Railways step up efforts to contain COVID-19

INN/New Delhi, @Infodeaofficial

The Indian Railways is continuously making efforts to support the health service efforts of the Government of India. The Health Department of the Railways is getting ready and has chalked out to support the Government of India’s health efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

The Railways has 586 health units, 45 sub-divisional hospitals, 56 divisional hospitals, 8 production units hospitals and 16 zonal hospitals across the country. A large part of these facilities will be dedicated to combating the coronavirus from now on. With a total of 2546 doctors and 35153 paramedics including nursing staff, pharmacists and other category staff, the Railways is ready to face any challenge in the fight against COVID-19.

Under a new initiative, railway health services have now been made available to all central government employees across the country. Some specialties in these services include primary, secondary and tertiary care services.

The following steps have been taken by the Indian Railways in the fight against Kovid-19: –

Conversion of coaches to serve as quarantine/isolation facilities: Indian Railways is converting 5000 train coaches across the country to serve as quarantine/isolation facilities to manage 80000 beds for COVID-19. For this, work has been started on the war footing by the zonal railway. The conversion work of 3250 coaches has already been completed.

5000 beds have been earmarked for treatment of Kovid-19 patients: About 5000 beds have been identified in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 hospital blocks of railway hospitals for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. These hospitals and blocks are being built for this purpose.

11,000 quarantine beds: 11,000 quarantine beds have been provided in Indian Railways establishments to fight COVID-19.

Availability of Kits and devices – Ventilators and PPE:  Availability of an adequate number of personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, etc. will be important in the fight against Kovid-19. Steps have been taken by railway zones and production units to mobilize ventilators, PPE and medical equipment to meet the requirements to fight Kovid-19. It may be noted that Railways have already started manufacturing internal protective equipment (PPE) internally. It strives to manufacture about 1000 PPE per day, further increasing the number.

Offering Railway Health Services to all Central Government Employees:  Railway Health Services are provided to all Central Government employees across the country on the display of identity cards in Railway Hospitals / Health Centers.