The state health department has decided to open six hospitals exclusively for Covid 19 cases across north Bengal and has asked the state PWD to prepare estimates for their construction.

“Each hospital will have at least 100 beds. We are scouting for locations for such hospitals. We will prefer sites near existing district hospitals or medical colleges for better healthcare management,” said Sushanta Roy, the officer on special deputy who has deputed by the state health department in north Bengal.

On Thursday and Friday, Roy visited Cooch Behar and Alipurduar, respectively. In both the places, he visited some of the existing government health establishments and held talks with district health officials.

“In Alipurduar, we are planning a new Covid hospital with around 140 beds,” he said.

According to sources in the health department, along with Alipurduar and Cooch Behar, new hospitals would come up at Falakata, Raiganj, Kalimpong and Malda.

The new Covid-19 hospitals, sources said, would be ready within one-and-a-half years.

“Such separate facilities for Covid patients will help in reducing the load on district hospitals and medical colleges. Also, standalone hospitals built only for the patients who test Covid positive will reduce the risk of the infection spreading elsewhere,” said a district health official.

Test fee ‘anomaly’

The chief medical officer of health (CMOH) of Darjeeling has formed a two-member committee to look into allegations that some private labs in Siliguri are charging more for RT-PCR tests than the sum stipulated by the state.

Recently, a lawyer of Calcutta High Court based in Siliguri, Atindra Chowdhury, filed a complaint with health officials, alleging a private lab charged him Rs 2,500 for the test instead of Rs 1,200, but issued him a receipt for Rs 1,200.

“The panel of assistant CMOH and deputy CMOH-I will probe into the allegation and submit a report in 10 days. The panel will also keep tabs on private labs to prevent such anomalies,” said a source.