J&K govt writes to MHA,  seeks handing  over two DRDO hospitals to UT administration

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir administration is likely to take over the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO’s) hospitals.

Last year, two hospitals with 500 bed capacity each were established in Kashmir and Jammu divisions to manage the pandemic.

As per the official sources, talks are going on between the Union Territory administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the handing over of the hospitals to the UT administration.

“Right now communication is going on between the UT administration and MHA. Probably, the hospital will be handed over to the Union Territory for further operations. Later, the UT administration has to take the call on what kind of hospital it will stay,” they said.

Earlier last month, the Ministry of Defence directed J&K Government to wind up these two COVID19 hospitals after a sharp decline in COVID-19 cases.

The UT on average is recording five cases of COVID-19 as such the administration has an adequate infrastructure available to deal with any hike in the cases.

Sources said that the government has shown its interest to continue using the health facilities in the future. “It was only after the letter that Jammu and Kashmir administration expressed its will to continue using the health facilities. We hope that MHA conveys its decisions over the hospitals very soon,” they said.

Despite no admission, the DRDO hospitals continue operating in the union territory. Medical Superintendent at the DRDO hospital Khanmoh Dr. Abdul Rashid Para told The Kashmir Monitor that they have dedicated staff deputed in the hospital to deal with any eventuality.

“We have currently no patients admitted to the hospital. We have staff including doctors and paramedics deputed here,” he said.

On June 14 last year, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated COVID-19 care hospital after the Union Territory recorded a massive surge in COVID-19 cases during the second wave.
The Hospital has all requisite COVID care facilities which included 510 oxygen-equipped beds, out of which, 10 are for triage, 375 are ward beds and 125 are ICU beds.

It is equipped with a laboratory and an X-ray facility.