For welfare of residents, covid testing starts at three new places from today onwards: Ashu

Ludhiana:     Punjab Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu today informed that for the welfare of residents, Covid 19 testing would now be done at three new government centres, namely Community Health Centres located at Jawaddi, Subhash Nagar and Giaspura. He said that with the start of this facility, the total number of government facilities for getting Covid tests done would become 6.
    It is pertinent to mention that at present, Covid sampling is done at Civil Hospital Ludhiana, Mother Child Hospital near Vardhman Mills on Chandigarh Road and at Meritorious School near Nehru Rose Garden, here. Besides, the sampling is also done at Police Lines (for police personnel) and at Central Jail (for inmates/undertrials) and by mobile teams in containment/micro-containment zones.
    Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu today chaired a review meeting in this regard, which was attended by Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Kumar Sharma, Commissioner of Police Mr Rakesh Kumar Agrawal, ADC (Development) Mr Sandeep Kumar, ADCP Dr Sachin Gupta, Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Kumar Bagga, District Epidemiologist Dr Ramesh, besides several others.
    Mr Ashu informed that there were reports that a large number of people gather at Civil Hospital Ludhiana, Mother Child Hospital near Vardhman Mills on Chandigarh Road and at Meritorious School near Nehru Rose Garden for testing of Covid 19. He said that to ease out the huge inflow of such persons at a particular place, three more places have been added. He informed that the health department officials have also been directed to increase the number of testing counters at each place so that proper social distancing can be maintained.
    With the efforts of Mr Bharat Bhushan Ashu, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Ludhiana have agreed to operate the Lord Mahavira Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital as a Covid Care Centre. Mr Ashu thanked both IMA Ludhiana and the management of Lord Mahavira Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital for assisting the district administration in this hour of need. He said that he is also in talks with other private hospitals for taking over the government hospitals so that best healthcare services can be provided to the residents.
    He directed the district administration officials to ensure that there is no shortage of beds for patients in Ludhiana and services of more private hospitals should be taken in the interest of people.
    Deputy Commissioner Mr Varinder Sharma told Mr Ashu that for the welfare of residents and to ensure better coordination amongst district administration and private hospitals, a dedicated portal have been developed through which real time status of vacant beds in each hospital is being monitored so that in case, a particular hospital does not have vacant bed, the patient can be shifted to another nearby hospital. He assured the residents that now, no hospital would be able to hide information regarding the actual status of vacant beds. He said that the direct access of this portal is with him, Commissioner of Police and ADC (Development), besides the information is also being shared with the private hospitals.
    Mr Ashu said that the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh led Punjab government is committed to provide best healthcare services to the citizens. He urged the residents not to panic as he is personally monitoring the situation.