Covid Care Hospital With 900 Beds Being Established At Ahmedabad, Gujarat Govt Tells High Court

The Gujarat Government has apprised the Gujarat High Court on the measures and response undertaken by the State to tackle the drastic surge in covid 19 cases by stating that a large network has been set up by government and private laboratories for collection of samples of RT-PCR testing. Moreover, it has also been stated that a specially dedicated Covid Care Hospital is being established at Ahmedabad with an availability of 900 beds and oxygen facilities.

The development came on an affidavit filed by the State of Gujarat on Tuesday in the suo motu proceedings initiated by the Bench of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Bhargav Karia taking stock of the surge in COVID-19 cases in the State.

Stating that while the testing is being done in very district of the State through RT-PCR, TrueNAT and CBNAT machines, the affidavit provides that the same was not possible at Taluka or Nagarpalika level wherein the expertise in testing analysis is not available.

On Covid Testing

The State Government has informed the High Court that the State Health and Family Welfare Department has requested all private laboratories to enhance their testing capacity for which the government and corporations have given their support to the staff of private labs in order to maximize their output and reduce the time lag in delivering reports.

On the figures of testing, the affidavit reads thus:

"It is respectfully submitted that State government has developed the state wide network of testing centers for COVID 19. As on Date, total 98 COVID testing laboratories are functioning, out of which 43 are Government and 55 are private laboratories. At present every district in the state has RTPCR TESTING FACILITY, either through RTPCR machines, or TrueNAT and CBNAT machines. The RTPCR reports from each of these machines is of equal efficacy."

Furthermore, the Government has also stated that as far as testing in district level is concerned, the Government has decided to "additionally put up RT-PCR machines in all the 33 districts and immediate measures have been undertaken for the same."

"Presently, as on the 18th April 2021, 1,73,000 tests are carried out on daily basis as against 1.45,000 stated in the affidavit dated 14th April,2021 . Hence, number of testing per day has been increased drastically from 33271 tests on 1st March 2020 to 1,73,000 tests on 16th April 2021. Between the 1st of April to the 18th of April 24,69,625 number of tests are carried out across the state of which 9,70,236 are RTPCR tests." The affidavit reads.

On Drugs and Logistics, Availability of Remdesivir and its Administration

The State Government has also apprised the Court that while a short supply of the injection has taken place causing anxiety to the public, great efforts the state government is managing to procure, a daily stock of approximately 20,000 vials of 100m1 Remdesivir injections.

"Subject to the availability thereof and as per the priority evolved, the patients admitted in State government hospitals are been considered first followed by the patients admitted in the private hospitals and Covid Care Centers. Baring a minimum emergency stock, the entire stock received is being utilized for treating needy patients. As regard to the usage of such injection in the private sector, it needs to be noted that private hospitals, private persons have been purchasing these drugs directly from wholesaler/ stockists and licensed pharmacies. The State Government taking every possible proactive steps to procure from any and every source, as many injections as possible so that it can be administered to the needy on a priority basis" the affidavit reads.

Providing the figures, the affidavit states that roughly on an average, the government is managing to procure 20,000 injections and that the Government has already placed orders for procurement of 5,74,000 number of 100 ML vials of Remdesivir during 1st to 18th April 2021.

Highlighting that the State Government has taken serious actions against the hoarders and black marketers of the injection, the affidavit provides thus:

"Police Department in co-ordination with Food and Drug Control Authority are vigilant and keep an eye on any illegal stocking or trading of this injection. State has also established a mechanism to provide Inj. Remdesivir to private hospitals from Government Hospitals at purchase price."

On Physical Infrastructure, Availability of Beds and Occupany

The State Government has further informed the High Court that the State government is pro-active and extremely conscious of its responsibilities to make the best infrastructure available to its people.

"It is respectfully submitted that as on 18tt of April, 2021, there are 79444beds are available for COVID 19 patients in different 1590 institutes in entire state." The affidavit states.

Informing that a fully equipped, dedicated Covid Care Hospital, of 900 beds with oxygen facilities, is being established at University Convention Centre, GMDC, Ahmedabad, the affidavit further provides that:

"In association with Defense, Research and Development Organization (DRDO) of Home Department, Government of India as a pilot project. Work is underway. The hospital will be operationalized by the 25th of April, 2021, 400 more beds will be added in the near future. A 200 bed Dedicated COVID Hospital with Oxygen facility has been started at Atladara, Vadodara with help of Swaminarayan Sampraday."

On the aspect of supply of oxygen, the affidavit reads thus:

"In order to enhance medical oxygen supply, initially for a period of 7 days, which presently stands extended for further period of 8 days, oxygen dependent industries have been asked to stop all production completely. Nearly 2000 industrial oxygen cylinders have been procured from these industries and after due process are being employed for making available the state. Medical Oxygen carrying vehicles have also been given a special status of that of an ambulance to enable expeditious transportation."