Cuttack: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik dedicated nine ECMO machines to the people of Odisha while inaugurating those Friday. He said that the installation of the new machines at the SCB Medical College and Hospital here makes the ECNO unit the largest in eastern India. Naveen Patnaik added that the Odisha government has recruited highly qualified medical professionals for running the unit.
Patnaik said that the with the setting up of the ECMO machines at the State-run hospital, critical Covid-19 patients will no longer need to be taken to other states. He also stated that the Odisha government will cater to all expenses related to the treatment of Covid-19 patients.
“ECMO treatment is very costly but the Odisha government will provide treatment free of cost to critical Covid-19 patients,” the Chief Minister said in a video message post the inauguration.
“The second wave of the pandemic was very painful. Even though the lockdown restrictions have been relaxed, the fight against the pandemic is not yet over. We have to remain cautious for the impending third wave,” Patnaik pointed out.
The CM urged the citizens to follow Covid-19 safety protocols to protect children from the fatal virus as they are expected to be affected the most during the third wave, according to experts.
As many Covid-19 patients will require ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) treatment, the government has decided to divide the nine machines in the two units.
According to a source, the larger unit will comprise of six ECMO machines while there will a smaller division with the remaining three for emergency purposes.