A hospital in central Calcutta that was shut down around five years ago for renovation will be reopened this week for Covid patients.
Islamia Hospital on CR Avenue will start with 125 beds, of which 20 will be critical care beds.
“The plan is for a G+9 building but only five storeys are ready. We have decided to open it to treat Covid patients during this crisis situation,” said Amiruddin (Bobby), the general secretary of the hospital and a member of the board of administrators of the Calcutta Municipal Corporation.
“The hospital will be inaugurated this week. We have got all permissions and have procured life-savers such as ventilators and BiPAPs. Any Covid patient — irrespective of caste, religion or class — can seek treatment at the hospital,” he said.
Amiruddin also said patients will get the benefits of the Swastha Sathi card at Islamia Hospital.
The hospital has tied up with Charring Cross Nursing Home for doctors, nurses and other health-care staff.
Islamia Hospital was set up in 1926. Since the building was in a shambles, it had to be razed. Over the past five years a new building was coming up in its place.
An official at the hospital said they had tried to complete the technical work like installation of the fire safety mechanism, air conditioning and oxygen connection over the past few months under the supervision of Firhad Hakim, the chairman of the board of administrators of the CMC.
“We wanted to use this space and facility during the pandemic. For now only Covid patients will be treated here. Once the situation improves, we will turn this into a general hospital,” said Amiruddin.
Many hospitals have increased their bed counts because of the surge in Covid cases. Institutions across the city are also trying to set up safe homes on their premises where Covid patients with mild or no symptoms can stay. Safe homes enable hospitals to focus more on critical patients.
“The medical expenses are very high now and not everyone is able to afford treatment at every hospital in the city. This hospital in central Calcutta will benefit more people,” said social activist Imran Zaki, who is a resident of the area where Islamia Hospital is located.
