J&K Health Deptt likely to take over DRDO hospitals
Established to fight the COVID pandemic in 2021, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) Hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar are likely to be taken over by the Jammu and Kashmir Health Department.
The institutions however, as per sources will be used for emergency management and experiment purposes.
“The DRDO hospitals at Jammu and Srinagar have been handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir administration by the central government and the Health Department is in the process of purchasing them,” official sources said.
Sources added that the quotation proposal has been submitted by the DRDO, in which its assets will be evaluated on behalf of the department.
State-of-the-art medical equipment with 500-500 beds was installed in both the hospitals and presently, they both are non-functional in view of almost decline in the COVID positive patients.
“Jammu and Kashmir Health Department is on job and holding deliberations to take over the DRDO hospitals.
“In Kashmir, the DRDO set up can be used as a psychiatrist hospital to treat mental illness among people,” sources added and said that similarly, DRDO in Jammu can be utilized for treating communicable diseases including seasonal dengue.
Notably, an increase in dengue cases is reported every year in different districts of Jammu division during the monsoon season.
“After submitting the proposal to the state administration on behalf of DRDO, the Health Department will get the assets of DRDO evaluated from other wings including engineering,” sources asserted and said that in this, expert advice will also be taken on all points as to how the assets and infrastructure of DRDO can be used for better health services.
Completed in a limited duration during the second wave of the COVID pandemic, both 500 bedded DRDO Hospitals have 125-125 ICU beds.
The Jammu and Kashmir Government had decided to run both the hospitals for a maximum of one to three years. Despite the closure of DRDO Hospital in Jammu recently, a medical superintendent has been appointed for it.
“The process of buying DRDO hospitals by the Health Department is under consideration and a proposal has also been received from DRDO for this. It is expected that they will be used for emergency management and it will further augment health services in the region,” said an official.
