Jammu, Feb 26 (Representative) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday laid the foundation stone of 13 critical care projects approved under PM-ABHIM and ECRP amounting to Rs.350.25 crore and dedicated six food safety on wheels amounting to Rs 2.63 crore through virtual mode in UT of J&K from Rajkot, Gujarat. The foundation stone for 100 bedded Critical Care Block Unit was laid at GMC Jammu and District Hospital Budgam and for 50 bedded Critical Care Block Units at DH Kulgam, GMC Baramulla, GMC Rajouri, GMC Kathua, SKIMS Bemina, DH Pulwama, DH Kupwara, DH Reasi , PHC Sonamarg, DH Poonch and DH Shopian. These Critical Care Units shall provide services of emergency, surgical and intensive care. Most of the critical care services are confined to tertiary care level with limited access to secondary care and referral transport systems. The top five causes of mortality – Coronary Artery Disease, COPD, Stroke, Diarrheal Diseases, and Neonatal disorders – shall be managed timely at the level of these units itself, it will not only reduce the burden on tertiary care facilities but will also reduce the Out of Pocket Expenses significantly.
The COVID pandemic has highlighted the need for critical care facilities, especially at the level of the districts. To augment the capacity of the district for assured treatment and management of patients with infectious diseases or critical illnesses by creating Critical Care Hospital Blocks Wings at District Hospitals/ Medical Colleges. The current architecture of the public hospitals is not equipped fully to handle the dual burden of meeting critical care needs and maintaining essential services as was seen during the two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many hospital buildings especially in districts, do not have provision for segregating a part of the building as an infectious disease treatment block/wing. Under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the central government would support 100 and 50-bedded Critical Care Hospital Block/Wings that would be self-contained, and be equipped with critical, supportive and ancillary services such as Emergency area, Intensive Care Units (ICU), Isolation Wards/Oxygen supported beds, Surgical unit, two labour, delivery, recovery rooms (LDRs) with one New-born care corner. These blocks/wings would also be supported by Medical Gas Pipeline Systems, Oxygen generation plants/ Oxygen supply, Air Handling Units (AHUs) etc. and mechanism for Infection Prevention Control.