Jammu admin ensures enhanced infra, Oxygenated beds in rural-urban areas: Garg

Jammu: The District Administration has laid key emphasis on enhancement of Oxygenated beds both in rural and urban areas to deal with surge in positive cases amid second wave of Covid pandemic, said Jammu Deputy Commissioner Anshul Garg here on Monday.
“The recommended guidelines and protocol is being followed while providing medical services/facilities to the people affected by Coronavirus,” Mr Garg said while briefing the media regarding the control measures being taken by the Administration.

The Deputy Commissioner said that in order to tackle the challenges posed by second waves effectively, the Administration has laid key emphasis on enhancement of Oxygenated beds.
He added that after installing four oxygen generating plants in GMC Jammu, Gandhi Nagar Hospital and CD Hospital, the Sub-district Hospitals have also been prepared for the same.
The Deputy Commissioner informed that oxygenated beds have been made fully functional at SDH Kot Bhalwal and Rajiv Gandhi Hospital at Digiana.
He also said that positive patients are referred to these hospitals and discharged after recovery.
For capacity enhancement, SDH Bishnah has also been provided with a facility of 30 oxygenated beds in order to tackle the increasing number of Covid patients, the DC added.

“In view of the spike in Covid-19 cases in rural areas, Covid Care Centres having capacity of one thousand beds have been made functional out of which 150 beds are oxygenated,” he informed.
The Deputy Commissioner further informed that over 2200 Covid Care Kits have been distributed among the positive patients under home isolation.
To cover the left out persons of above 45, a special drive was conducted on May 16 where more than three thousand persons were given the first dose of vaccination, he informed further.
Expressing concern over death rate, the Deputy Commissioner appealed to the public to go for the RAT/RT-PCR test, soon after developing any symptoms, as late reporting is one of the major reasons for deaths.

He also stated that the positivity rate of cases is high in the district and people should adhere to SOPs in letter and spirit which is the most effective tool to contain the spread of this infection.
However, Mr Garg in capacity as District Magistrate Jammu also fixed the Ceiling for HRCT Scan of the Chest by Private Establishments in the District.
The upper ceiling for Chest C.T. Scan (Plain) has been fixed at Rs1500/ the charges for HRCT Scan (less than 16 slices) has been fixed at Rs 2500/ and that for HRCT Scan (more than 16 slices) has been notified as Rs 3000/ for all Private establishments in the District

As per the order the move has come following a number of public complaints received regarding exorbitant rates being charged by Private institutions and diagnostic laboratories from the patients for undergoing HRCT Scan.
The said Committee after an analysis of the Private market rates across various States recommended the upper ceiling of Rs 3,000 for HRCT Scan of the chest.
The rates shall come into force with immediate effect and shall be applicable for all Covid-19 patients/suspected cases during the time of the pandemic.
All the Sub Divisional Magistrates and Tehsildars shall ensure the implementation of these rates in all the Private institutions and diagnostic laboratories within their Jurisdiction under the overall supervision of Additional Deputy Commissioner, Law and Order, Jammu (94197-94234)who shall be the Nodal Officer for compliance of the order