Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has decided to continue with the additional manpower hired to tackle Covid-19 outbreak in the state for one more month despite a decline in fresh cases.
According to a source, Health and Family Welfare Department (H&FW) has written a letter to all Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, Directors of Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) and Capital Hospital, all CDMOs and PHOs and Superintendents, Deans and Principals of all Government Medical College and Hospitals in the state in this context.
In view of the decrease in daily cases and as part of readiness for the anticipated third wave, the state government, after careful consideration, has decided to retain the additional manpower, who were engaged at Government-owned and Government-managed facilities for Covid-19 management, up to November 30, 2021, the letter read.
Besides, personnel already engaged in activities of surveillance, vaccination and testing will also be retained.
“Covid infrastructure, including beds at government facilities will be kept intact and may, in the event of necessity, be diverted to non-Covid only with the approval of the Collector/ Municipal Commissioner concerned,” the letter further informed.
The disengagement of manpower will be done as per the direction of Orissa High Court. Various categories of manpower such as MBBS doctors, AYUSH doctors, staff nurses, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, hospital managers, DEOs for the Government Covid Hospitals will be paid out of HSS-NHM funds.
Besides, outsourced support staff such as attendants, security staff, cleaning staff, electricians and plumbers will be paid out of the budgetary provision made under the Nirmal scheme, the H&FW Department said in the letter.