AFMS deploys additional doctors at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital

Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) has deployed additional doctors, including specialists, super specialists and paramedics, at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel COVID hospital in Delhi to cater to the current surge in COVID-19 cases.

Keeping in view the huge spike this time, 378 doctors have been mobilised in 2021, against 294 doctors and health workers in 2020. These include 164 doctors in 2021 as against 132 doctors in 2020. Last year, only 18 specialists were mobilised, as against 43 specialists and 17 super specialists this year.

Manpower mobilisation has been accomplished at a short notice of three days. This year, when the facility was reopened on April 19, 2021 with provision of 250 beds, all beds were occupied within two hours of opening the facility, owing to the enormous surge of cases in Delhi.

All patients were critical and oxygen dependent, said the Ministry of Defence. The critical patients admitted this time are in excess of more than 85% at any given point of time which is more than eight times compared to last year’s worst peak.

India has reported 3,46,786 new COVID-19 cases, 2,624 deaths and 2,19,838 discharges in the last 24 hours.