Gujarat plans to procure over 5000 beds in coming days

AHMEDABAD: In the wake of a health crisis in the state, various agencies including top industrial houses, voluntary agencies and the state government itself, have planned to create more than 5000 hospital beds with oxygen in the coming days.

On Tuesday, April 27, ArcelorMittal group started a 250-bed facility at the Hazira plant near Surat which will be expanded to 1000 beds soon, according to officials. Adani Group is also in discussion to set up a 1000-bed facility with oxygen in the region. Dhanvantari COVID hospital by Defence Research and Development organisation (DRDO), which will contain 950 beds initially with plans of further expansion, is yet to be fully functional.

Smaller organisations, trade bodies and non-government organisations (NGOs) are also chipping in for the task. In Ahmedabad, Vishwa Umiya Foundation also began the operation of 150-beds facility at DK Patel Hall with the cooperation of Devasya Hospital and Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the state has increased its COVID beds capacity from 41,000 in March to 78,000 presently. He added that the state is all ready to add 8000 more oxygen beds in the next few days.