Pvt hospitals have agreed to provide 3,500 beds for COVID-19 treatment: Karnataka Minister

Karnataka Medical Education K Sudhakar on Wednesday said manments of private hospitals have agreed to provide 3,500 beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

Minister's office in a release said government was preparing to conduct one lakh antigen tests from this weekend.

minister today held discussions with manments of private hospitals on making beds available for treatment of COVID patients.

"...3,000-3500 beds in ir hospitals will be mand by us through centralised allotment system, every bed will have an allotment number and it will be real time," Sudhakar told reporters after meeting.

In dition to beds, hospitals will also run COVID-care centres in collaboration with hotels to treat asymptomatic and people with mild symptoms.

"Those who want to get treatment at private Covid Care Centres can go re and avail facility, we have permitted m to operate CCCs with 3000-4000 beds...so toger with hospitals beds and covid care centres, private hospitals will d 6000 to 7000 beds in coming days," he said.

Earlier in day, Sudhakar inspected Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city corporation) building on Broway ro in city that is being developed as a full-fledged Covid hospital.

He said Infosys Foundation is providing necessary infrastructure for hospital at a cost of Rs 30 crore and it will be functional in ar 10 days.

"Initially hospital will be having 180 beds with high flow oxygen lines.se beds can be converted for ventilator facilities if need be...30 ventilators will be provided.

hospital will be having Neuro-surgery OT, Cardio OT, and CT Scan facilities," he was quoted as saying in a release.

Regarding strike by PG students and house surgeons of JJM Medical college demanding release of stipend of 16 months, Sudhakar clarified that he has held several meetings with college manment in this regard.

ting that Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa also has alrey directed manment to release stipend immediately, he said w college manment has to take action.