Over 1,000 retd Army Medical Corps officials volunteer for coronavirus fight

New Delhi: Amid the country’s battle against the coronavirus, over 1,000 retired Army Medical Corps officers and paramedical staff have volunteered to once again serve at armed forces hospitals in their respective home stations whenever needed.

The armed forces informed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday that these include 43 officers and 990 paramedics.

Singh was also told that to help in the isolation and treatment of coronavirus positive patients, including ICU care, orders to notify 50 armed forces hospitals as dedicated COVID hospitals and mixed COVID hospitals have been issued.

These hospitals have a combined bed capacity of 9,038. Civilian COVID-19 cases would also be admitted in these hospitals to augment state healthcare facilities.

These developments were revealed during the Defence Minister’s review of the functioning of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and their assistance to civilian authorities to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Approximately 650 medical officers undergoing postgraduate training at various armed forces medical colleges will be reverted back to their units for providing medical care depending on the evolving situation.

In addition, 100 medical officers from recruiting organisations are being detailed to work in hospitals where COVID wards are being established.

Lieutenant Gen Anup Banerjee, Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services, informed the Defence Minister that the emergency financial powers were granted to Director Generals of Medical Services and officers down the hierarchy. He said procurement of essential health equipment such as face masks, sanitisers, Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), ventilators is going on smoothly at a fast pace. (IANS)

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