Armed Forces providing assistance but not to set up field hospitals

The aid includes airlifting of supplies, service extensions to doctors and assistance in setting up medical facilities at several major towns. In a high court hearing, the Centre said that in principle it has been decided that the forces would not be setting up field hospitals, in light of the current services being rendered by them to civil authorities.

“Our medical resources on the Line of Control, Line of Actual Control, high altitude areas, remote areas, CI operational areas continue to function from there. Covid-19 facilities already established in military hospitals across the country. Manning of all DRDO Hospitals is entirely by the armed forces medical services,” officials said. Adding that while medical facilities are finite even with the services, Covid-19 facilities for the civil population are being set up in places like Bhopal, Barmer and Ranchi also. Defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that the surge in cases has resulted in a ‘once in a century crisis’ and full efforts are being put in by the armed forces to respond.

“Along with the efforts put together by the scientific community, health professionals, civil administration, the armed forces too have pitched in this battle against an invisible yet deadly enemy. Indian Army, Air Force, Navy, and other organisations of the defence ministry like DG AFMS, DRDO, OFB, DPSU, NCC, Cantonments Boards, etc are engaged in mitigating the sufferings of the people,” the minister wrote in a long post on the assistance being provided by the forces. Singh added that mobilisation of additional health professionals, setting up of new Covid-19 facilities, deployment of IAF transport aircraft and Navy ships to provide logistic support to facilitate the supply of oxygen from friendly foreign countries and within the country and setting up of new oxygen plants are some examples of this effort.