Delhi: Hindu Rao hospital finally functions as Covid facility

NEW DELHI: Amid protests and dissent, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation-run Hindu Rao Hospital finally started operating as a Covid-designated facility from Saturday. For the time being, the 980-bed tertiary care facility is operating a 50-bed Covid care facility. Senior corporation officials say that the capacity will be increased gradually.

Earlier in the day, the resident doctors association of the hospital held a protest to highlight their several demands, including not running a Covid facility without basic infrastructure. In a letter written to the medical superintendent, the resident doctors of Hindu Rao Hospital said that they stand in solidarity with them in fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic. “We are committed to serve our duties well and to the best of our efforts, but the association would like to bring to notice a few concerns,” the letter stated.

Their demands included timely disbursement of salaries, no deduction in salaries of those who are advised quarantine, notice regarding accommodation of all healthcare workers, installation of air conditioning units in the hospital wards, availability of quality PPEs and enough sanitisers and proper common pool roster with sufficient number of doctors in every team for 12 hours duty.

Some of the demands were met and a compromise was reached by the afternoon. Mayor of the north corporation, Jai Prakash, said that the hospital had started functioning and three patients were admitted as per the latest report. “We will keep increasing the number of beds based on the demand. We have made staying arrangements for all doctors and healthcare workers. We will sort out all issues raised by the doctors and I will visit the facility on Monday,” he added.

Senior doctors from the association told TOI that they have started working. “Staying arrangements for doctors have been made in a Connaught Place hotel, while paramedical staff and nurses will be staying in a Karol Bagh hotel,” said association president Dr Abhimanyu Sardana.