Indian Air Force Has Offered To Set Up COVID Facility In Bengaluru, Karnataka HC Told

In a memo filed by by the Central Government, it was informed that in compliance with the earlier directions issued by the court, a meeting was chaired on May 3, by P.Ravi Kumar, Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka and attended by senior officers of the Army and the Air Force, via video conferencing.

During the meeting, the Indian Air Force offered to set up a dedicated COVID care Facility at Jalahalli for the treatment of the general public. The Indian Air Force would be supporting the facility with necessary supervisory staff (Medical). Medical Specialist, Anaesthesiologist, other Doctors. Nursing Officers Para-Medical staff and other support staff. The Housekeeping. Catering, Bio Medical waste management & Laundry have been outsourced to a Contractor.

The State Government has agreed to provide all Pharmacy requirements (ie. Medicines, Oxygen and its supply chain). External Security & Traffic management and two personnel per shift with local language proficiency, for Manning the reception round the clock.

The memo further gives details of the time scheduled for setting up the facility. It is said by May 6, 20 beds with Oxygen Concentrators will be operational. Further, 100 Beds (10 ICU Beds, 40 beds with piped oxygen and 50 beds with Oxygen Concentrators) will be operational by May 20.

However, availability of ICU Beds and piped oxygen beds is subject to completion of work by the Contractor who is laying the pipelines at the facility and supply of Oxygen cylinders by the State Government. The facility when fully operational shall have 100 beds, all for use by the State Government. The admission to the said facility shall be regulated by the State Government under intimation to the Facility In-Charge.

It is also said that scaling up of operations, as indicated, shall be contingent on the supply of Oxygen by the State Government. Moreover, the current contracted oxygen supply to the Command Hospital, Air Force (Bangalore) is just sufficient to meet its requirement precluding the possibility of any diversion to the proposed Covid facility at Jalahalli.

The court in its order dated April 29 had said ""In situations created by disaster the Armed forces have always respected and helped civic administration. The situation in Bengaluru is very critical. We therefore direct officers of BBMP including the Commissioner and state government to immediately hold a meeting with officers of Army and Airforce in the city. We hope and trust that Army/Airforce officers will go out of the way to help civic administration by creating a large number of beds with oxygen."