Two hospitals in Bengaluru to set up isolation wards with a total of 300 beds

Bengaluru: Managements of two hospitals in Bengaluru -- St John’s Medical College and Hospital and Narayana Health City -- have offered to set up isolation wards in their hospital premises to treat Covid-19 affected patients.

The Karnataka government signed a MoU with St John’s Hospital Director Dr Paul Parathazham to reserve 200 beds with isolation facilities. Dr Parathazham said that two Covid-19 patients are already receiving treatment at the hospital. “We have kept 15 ICUs with ventilators ready. The hospital also has 500 doctors, 1,300 nurses and 1,400 beds,” he said.

Meanwhile, Infosys Foundation, the philanthropic and CSR arm of Infosys, and Narayana Health have announced the launch of a 100-room quarantine facility for COVID-19 patients, in the vicinity of Narayana Health City in Bengaluru. “The facility, aimed at serving patients belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society, will accommodate patients, offer regular monitoring by doctors, nurses, and provide essential medication, free of cost,” according to a press release from Infosys Foundation.

Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty said, “diseases often hit the underprivileged the hardest, because they cannot afford proper treatment, and at the same time, they lose their livelihood while dealing with the illness. This is a small effort by the Foundation to ensure that the underserved people of our society get access to clean, hygienic accommodation as well as appropriate medical treatment.”

Dr. Devi Shetty, Chairman and Executive Director, Narayana Health, said, “we are pleased to partner with Infosys Foundation to open this 100-room quarantine facility for underprivileged patients. Providing safe-spaces, with proper medical care to enable patients to isolate themselves, will play a big role in India’s fight against COVID-19.”