Chandigarh, June 7: Punjab Chief Minister Captain AmarinderSingh on Monday announced a Group of specialists in Paediatrics to frameprotocols and handhold private hospitals for enhancing paediatric beds andtreatment protocols, while rolling out a detailed action plan in preparation ofa possible third wave of Covid in the state.
The Group will comprise specialists from GMCs, Department ofHealth, PGI & IAP Punjab Chapter, said the Chief Minister, while directingthe Health and Medical Education departments to put into action a comprehensiveplan to deal with the next wave, if and when it comes.
Chairing a virtual Covid review meeting, the Chief Ministertook stock of the preparations under way for the 3rd wave and ordered creationof storage capacities for Oxygen for a minimum of three days in all GovernmentMedical Colleges, with piped O2 to be made available in all governmenthospitals. At least 375 MT Oxygen should be available with the state at anygiven time, he said, stressing the need to prepare for peak supply logistics.
Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan informed the meeting that thestate had received 500 Oxygen concentrators today against the World Bank Loanfor Water Surface Supply projects, and another 2500 were on the way.
Captain Amarinder also directed all DCs to identifyPaediatric Covid L2 and L3 Beds in Private Sector (at least 1000), with expertsto advise the district administration on Paediatric Treatment Protocol/Medicines. He asked the officials to increase the number of RTPCR machines forCovid testing of children, besides increasing ICU and Oxygen capacities,augmenting infrastructure and manpower, and increasing surveillance and testingacross the state.
Amid indications of the damage caused by 3rd wave in somecountries as much as 25% higher than the 2nd wave, the Chief Minister orderedcreation of surge capacity, with plugging of gaps, if any, in equipment,recruitment of doctors, specialists, nurses, technicians etc.
The SOPs received from the Paediatric Association of Indiashould be strictly adhered to, said the Chief Minister, directing healthexperts to put into action a comprehensive plan to deal with a third surge ofthe pandemic.
Stocks of consumable and medicines should be maintained andcapacity building of existing staff should be undertaken to ensure paediatricpatient care in the next wave, directed the Chief Minister. He also directed continues surveillance inboth urban and rural areas, along with whole genome sequencing testing mustcontinue. Sero-survey should also be taken up from time to time, he added.