Bhubaneswar: Health Minister Naba Kishore Das Monday informed the Assembly that the state government has incurred an expenditure of Rs 389 crore for providing treatment to COVID-19 patients at 32 dedicated COVID hospitals.
The minister also gave a breakup of the funds provided to each of the dedicated COVID hospitals. Das made the statement in the House after the Leader of Opposition Narasingha Mishra raised the issue Monday.
Mishra had asked about the expenditure the government has incurred in treatment, setting up of COVID hospitals and procuring equipment. The government however declined to give information on the purchase of equipment saying the process of calculating the same is underway.
The Health minister also said that no COVID hospital was set up in the state in PPP mode but agreements were made with private players for the same. In a written reply to the House, the minister said, “No COVID hospital had been established in the state in PPP mode, but 32 COVID facilities have been established by the government with the support from private partners.”
As per the list given by the minister, the state incurred an expenditure of Rs 389,59,66,466 (Rs 389 crore) till date. The minister claimed that the 32 designated COVID hospitals treated a total of 47,055 persons between March 1, 2020 and Feb 11, 2021.
As per details, Salandi Hospital in Bhadrak treated the maximum of 4,330 COVID patients followed by Hi Tech Medical College, Bhubaneswar (3258), Hi Tech Medical College, Rourkela (3591 patients) and KIMS Campus, Baripada (2321).
The documents as furnished by the government claimed that a mechanism was approved by the empowered group of ministers March 26, 2020 for a tripartite agreement between the state government, reputed hospital operators and corporate partners to set up exclusive COVID hospitals and MoUs were signed accordingly.
PNN