Retired armed forces doctors to help local administrations fight COVID

NEW DELHI: Around 600 retired armed forces doctors are being mobilised to help local administrations across the country, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was informed during a COVID-19 review meeting on Saturday.

He reviewed the efforts of the Defence Ministry and the armed forces to support the local administrations in the fight against COVID-19.

Singh was also briefed that the Indian Navy has deployed 200 Battle Field Nursing Assistants to assist in various hospitals. The National Cadet Corps (NCC) has deployed 300 cadets and staff at various locations in Maharashtra, Uttarakhand and Haryana.

A tele-medicine service, to be operated by health service veterans, will begin soon to provide consultation to those patients who remain at home.

The Indian Army has made available more than 720 beds for civilians in various states.

Singh directed the Army to share the details with the local administrations at the state and district levels. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat suggested that local military commands should be actively engaged in assisting the civil administration.

Singh was briefed that the 500-bed hospital being set up by the DRDO in Lucknow will start functioning in the next 2-3 days.

Another hospital is also being set up in Varanasi which is scheduled to be completed by May 5. (IANS)

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