Silchar Medical College & Hospital converts surgery ward into COVID block; number of beds now 206

As the number of COVID positive cases in Barak Valley climbs albeit steadily, the administration has rolled out a new bed arrangement in Barak Valley to accommodate more patients. Today, the deputy commissioner of Cachar visited Silchar Medical College and Hospital which had a capacity of 80 beds and three ventilators in the COVID ward. As proposed by the principal cum chief superintendent of SMCH, Dr. Babul Bezbaruah, the surgery ward has been now converted into a COVID ward.

“After DC madam visited and took stock of the situation we decided to use the surgery ward. This now adds 120 beds more,” said Bezbaruah.

Earlier during an interaction with Barak Bulletin, Bezbaruah had said that the patients who are currently admitted to the surgery ward will be accommodated in the orthopedics facility.

Apart from enhancing the facility at SMCH, the administration has set up units in Karimganj and Hailakandi too. “This will reduce the stress on SMCH,” said Bezbaruah.

Silchar MP, Rajdeep Roy visited Hailakandi today to take stock of the medical facilities at SK Roy Civil Hospital. He was accompanied by Superintendent of SMCH Abhijeet Swami. “On the request of Health Minister (Himanta Biswa Sarma), visited the Civil Hospital of Hailakandi district and took appraisal of the situation where 50 patients can be treated,” Roy posted on his Facebook page.

After returning back from Hailakandi, the MP assured the people of the valley about the capacity in Barak Valley. He posted on Facebook, “SMCH- 206, Karimganj- 50(ready)+50 (almost), Hailakandi-50, total – 356 Beds. The Microbiology lab (SMCH) can do up to 1000 samples testing in a day.”

Meanwhile, three more COVID patients got discharged today from SMCH after testing negative “twice”.