Dhanbad-based Coal India subsidiary, Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) has been working to provide medical infrastructure to the district administration by allocating two of its regional hospitals to prepare for the third wave of Covid-19.

Two of the regional hospitals of BCCL at Jealgora and Baghmara are almost ready with a 20-bed treatment facility.

The BCCL had earlier provided its 500-bed central hospital to the administration in its fight against the pandemic last year.

Appointment of around 40 doctors in the regional and other hospitals is already under progress as per the medical infrastructure revamp move of the BCCL administration.

Talking to The Telegraph Online on Tuesday, Chairman cum Managing Director (CMD) of BCCL, PM Prasad, said “A couple of our regional hospitals in Jealgora and Baghmara are almost in ready condition with 20 beds for Covid patients, while the possibility of development of more similar facilities in other hospitals in being explored. This will be handed over in a phase-wise manner to the district administration.”

“We have already initiated the process of appointment of doctors and their joinings would be completed soon,” said Prasad.

“Deputation of three or four more doctors in each regional hospital will help cope with the shortage of doctors to a great extent. The facility of the Central Hospital for all our employees for serious and critical cases is already implemented,” he added.

On May 2 Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Uma Shankar Singh had written to Prasad to deploy sufficient numbers of qualified doctors and medical staff in the BCCLS hospitals and its other medical facilities within 24 hours by making rosters to address the swelling number of Covid patients.

BCCL at present has eight regional hospitals, 40 dispensaries and other hospitals other than the Central Hospital.

Treatment of Covid patients in 70 beds of Central Hospital, including 30 beds of ICU and 40 other oxygen beds, is already in progress.

This apart, a Covid treatment centre was also operated during the first wave at the Regional Hospital of Bhuli.

Each of the eight regional hospitals has a dispensary facility, injection room, dressing room, minor operation theatre and a large waiting hall.