DW BUREAU / Chandigarh/Mohali

As part of the ongoing Sehatmand Punjab Mission launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) Mohali is all set to get 6-bedded medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to ensure the best treatment for critical patients at nominal charges, said Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister here on Friday.

The Health Minister accompanied by the Director Principal of AIMS Mohali Dr Bhavneet Bharti was reviewing the preparedness of the ICU, which is expected to be formally inaugurated by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.

Dr Balbir Singh said that the ICU facility will provide services to patients requiring ventilatory support at nominal charges.

"The ICU is operational and ready to take critical patients," he said, while adding that all life-saving equipment like crash carts, patient monitors, defibrillators and infusion pumps along with ventilators are available here.

Terming it as a significant milestone in the journey toward advancing healthcare excellence, the Health Minister said that this initiative will strengthen the medical infrastructure of the state.

Later, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh also visited the newly constructed state-of-the-art Biosafety Level 2 Lab at AIMS Mohali, which is currently well equipped with all the RTPCR facilities for the detection of COVID-19 and trained staff including faculty, research scientists, research assistants and lab technicians. This fully equipped lab has advanced infrastructure and latest equipment including Biosafety cabinets, RNA extractor, Refrigerated centrifuge, vortex mixers, mini-spinners, thermo-shakers, pipettes, Autoclave, PCR workstations, -40 degree and -80 degree Celsius deep freezers, RTPCR machines, computer units with printers and all the required consumables. This advanced machinery is being installed and soon the lab will be functional.

Dr Balbir Singh said that the purpose of this lab is to cater to the community and help in the timely identification of viruses of public health significance at the molecular level like influenza virus and other viruses causing respiratory tract infections, vector-borne viruses including dengue, chikungunya, Zika and viruses causing GI infections including hepatitis virus, sexually transmitted infections like Human papillomavirus and viruses causing CNS infections.

On the occasion, Superintendent Dr Navdeep Singh Saini, SMOs Dr HS Cheema and Dr Vijay Bhagat were present among other dignitaries.
(editor@dailyworld.in)