Indian Railways has deployed 2546 doctors and 35153 paramedical staff in its fight against the Covid-19 outbreak.
Upping the ante against the pandemic IR has set aside about 5000 beds in 17 hospitals besides adding 5000 coaches as isolation wards with a maximum capacity of 16 patients per coach.
IR has a healthcare chain of 586 Health Units, 45 Sub Divisional Hospitals, 56 Divisional Hospitals, 8 Production Units Hospitals and 16 Zonal Hospitals spread all over the country.
A significant portion of these facilities will now be dedicated to combat the Corona virus.
IR’s health services have been thrown open to all Central Government employees across the country on showing their identity cards. Services include Primary, Secondary, and tertiary care in certain specialties.
Following initiatives have been taken by Indian Railways in the fight against COVID-19:-
IR has already converted 3250 coaches out of the target of 5000 as on date.
Five thousand beds have been set aside in 17 dedicated hospitals and 33 hospital blocks in railway hospitals for treatment of COVID-19 patients. These hospitals and blocks are being readied. In addition 11000 quarantine beds have also been made available across the IR establishment.
Railway zones and production units are procuring ventilators, personal protective equipment (PPEs) and medical equipment to fight COVID-19.IR is on course to produce about 1000 PPEs per day which may be up-scaled further.