Chandigarh, May 19 :
In order to tackle the COVID crisis by way of providing timely treatment and further ramping up the bed capacity in the state, Government of Punjab through Department of Health has initiated the process of granting approval for setting up of temporary COVID hospitals.
First such project at Mohali got NOC within 24 hoursof submission of the application based upon Self Declarations.In order to ensure prompt and hassle-free clearances in these difficult times, relevant Govt departments have made relaxed Standard operating procedures for encouraging people to set up make-shift COVID hospitals in the state.The departments involved are Department of Health,Local Government, Housing and Urban Development, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Public Works Development, and Labour.
Invest Punjab has been made the nodal office to facilitate issuance of allrequisite NOCs/in-principle approvals from all concerned departments. The person/group who intends to open a temporary hospital can apply to invest Punjab by simply filling an application form and submitting Self-Declarations. This has been done to ensure that any person/group desirous of opening a makeshift hospital doesn’t need to visit multiple offices and getsthe clearances in a timebound manner.The final authority to issue in-principle approval lieswith Department of Health.
The first such in-principle approval up on Self Declarations to immediately start constructionwas granted to M/s Mohali Medical Group Pvt. Ltd for setting up an 80-bedded temporary hospital in Mohali. Sharing the details, Sh. Rajat Agarwal, CEO Invest Punjab said that Invest Punjab facilitated expeditious approval of the project by coordinating with all concerned departments andall the required NOCs were made available to Department of Health for granting approval within 24 hours. All the departments have been working together to battle the COVID crisis and have ensured that every NOC is granted on priority basis. He further said that any person/group with an intention to open a temporary covid hospital can approach Invest Punjab for guidance and necessary facilitation.
