Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews efforts of his Ministry, Armed Forces, DRDO in fighting 2nd Covid wave

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday reviewed efforts of his Ministry, Armed Forces, DRDO and other defence organisations in fighting the second COVID-19 wave. He also reviewed logistic support to bolster medical oxygen supply and health infrastructure in states.

 

The meeting focused on special COVID hospitals being set up by DRDO in different states, creation of additional hospital beds in military hospitals, supply of Pressure Swing Adsorption oxygen plants under PM CARES Fund and augmentation of doctors and other health professionals to meet the current demand. DRDO Chairman Dr G Satheesh Reddy briefed that the hospitals set up at Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ahmedabad and Patna were functional and providing services in treating the



patients. 

Similar facilities are being established in Rishikesh and Haldwani in Uttarakhand and Jammu and Srinagar at the request of the concerned authorities.

 

The DRDO has completed establishment of five PSA oxygen plants and work is in progress to set up 150 to 175 more such plants by the end of this month.

 

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat acclaimed the excellent coordination among the three Services in providing assistance to the civilian administration whether in terms of logistic support or creation of additional health infrastructure. He added that the Army has set up health facilities in far-flung and remote areas to aid the local civil administration.