New Delhi (NVI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan along with Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, inaugurated the Super Speciality Block (SSB) at Motilal Nehru Medical College, Prayagraj today.
During the virtual launch, the 220-bedded facility has been dedicated as a COVID-19 Hospital (DCH) to the nation.
Harsh Vardhan also inaugurated first high throughput COBAS 6800 machine in Uttar Pradesh, installed by Indian Council Medical Research (ICMR) to pursue its regionally balanced COVID-19 testing strategy.
“The Super Speciality Block is built with an investment of Rs 150 crores under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY),” the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
It has departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Nephrology, Urology, Plastic surgery, Endocrinology, Surgical Oncology, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, it added.
There will be seven operation theaters, 233 super specialty beds, 52 ICU beds, 13 dialysis beds in the SSB. However, this facility will have a training capacity of 24 PG students.
Launching the COBAS 6800 high throughput machine, Vardhan stated, “The COBAS 6800, a fully automated, high end machine for performing real time PCR testing for COVID-19 will provide quality, high-volume testing with a high throughput of around 1200 samples in 24 hours.”
“COBAS 6800 can also detect other pathogens like Viral Hepatitis B & C, HIV, MTb (both Rifampicin and Isoniazide resistance), Papilloma, Cytomegalovirus, Chlamydia, Neiserreia etc. It can be operated remotely with limited human intervention,” he added.
During the launch, Yogi Adityanath also thanked the union government for its proactive role in strengthening the health infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh through PMSSY.
Suresh Kumar Khanna, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Medical Education, Government of Uttar Pradesh hosted the event. Jai Pratap Singh, Minister of Medical and Health, Family Welfare, Mother and Child Welfare, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Member of Lok Sabha from Prayagraj were present at the event.
-RJV
