Telangana to triple bed capacity to tackle black fungus

Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Monday instructed officials to take all measures to tackle rising black fungus (mucormycosis) cases in the State. He wanted them to make separate arrangements, including beds, equipment and medicines, to treat those suffering from the epidemic.

Addressing a high-level meeting in Pragathi Bhavan here, the Chief Minister directed that the total number of beds allotted for black fungus patients be increased from the existing 400 to 1,500 in all the districts across the State including 1,100 beds in Hyderabad alone. The officials told him that 400 beds, including 150 at Gandhi Hospital and 250 at ENT hospital, were allotted to treat black fungus patients.

“Patients of both Covid and black fungus from neighbouring States are coming to Hyderabad for treatment. Hence, we must make preparations to meet the needs of at least 10 crore population, including about four crore people in Telangana. We cannot avoid providing treatment to patients from other States and hence, we must make arrangements to face any untoward challenges,” Chandrashekhar Rao said.

To meet the increasing needs, especially in the wake of patients from neighbouring States coming to Hyderabad, the Chief Minister issued orders to immediately arrange for 200 beds at Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital and another 160 beds at Gandhi



Hospital. Orders are also being placed for procuring medicines required to treat black fungus patients.

“With the spread of both Covid-19 and black fungus, the entire system is in chaos. Under these circumstances, there is no bigger priority for the State government, which will not hesitate to spend on building medical infrastructure even if it has to borrow loans,” he declared. He also urged the private health sector and other sectors to respond to the crisis and treat patients with a humane approach.

Finance Minister T Harish Rao, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, Principal Secretary for CMO S Narsing Rao, CMO Secretary and Special Officer on Covid-19 Rajashekhar Reddy, CMO Secretary Bhupal Reddy, DGP M Mahender Reddy, Police Commissioners Anjani Kumar, VC Sajjanar, Mahesh Bhagawat, Additional DG Jithender, Health Secretary SAM Rizvi, Health Director G Srinivasa Rao, Director of Medical Education Ramesh Reddy, CMO OSD Gangadhar, Telangana State Medical Services and Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC) Managing Director Chandrashekhar Reddy, Kaloji Narayana Rao Health University Vice-Chancellor Karunakar Reddy, Covid-19 Task Force members and IAS officers Jayesh Ranjan, Vikas Raj, Principal Secretary for Finance K Ramakrishna Rao and Special Secretary for Finance Ronald Ross attended the meeting.