Aster will dedicate 750 beds across its hospitals in the state for accepting patients referred by Government authorities for expert management
In an effort to support the State Government of Kerala in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, Aster DM Healthcare is undertaking proactive measures as a responsible healthcare organisation with significant presence in the State. The measures were announced by Dr Azad Moopen- Founder Chairman and Managing Director, Aster DM Healthcare following his conversation with Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Kerala who is the leading Kerala’s efforts to contain the COVID-19 crisis.
The measures are:
- Aster shall be donating Rs 2.5 crore to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to support the excellent efforts by the Government of Kerala to contain and eradicate COVID-19.
- Aster has hospitals at Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Kottakal and Wayanad. Aster shall dedicate 750 beds in these hospitals for accepting patients referred by the Government authorities for expert management.
- Aster shall explore with the Government to organise cluster of isolation / observation rooms for suspected and positive COVID cases, around the Aster hospitals in Kochi, Kozhikode and Kannur by seeking the co-operation of hotel and apartment owners. The doctors and nurses of Aster shall provide medical support in these facilities.
- Aster has already started Tele-Health Centres for providing out-patient consultation for patients in panic or people seeking medical consultation on COVID-19 which can be accessed through the website and call centres of all Aster units in India and GCC.
- Aster MIMS, Kozhikode is one of the two labs in the private sector recognised by ICMR to perform the COVID PCR test. This shall be made available to public as directed by the Government. The organisation is also seeking permission to perform the COVID Rapid Test in all the five Aster Hospitals in Kerala to help the people who are worried and want to get tested. This would increase the number of people being tested for identification, quarantine and treatment.
Speaking on the occasion Dr Moopen said, “As a healthcare organisation, it is our foremost responsibility to work closely with our Governments and introduce all possible measures to contain the health crisis that the world is facing today. In this we applaud the commendable leadership of Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Kerala and KK Shailaja, Health Minister, Kerala for their timely and strategic response to help the people of Kerala cope-up with the current situation. We remain committed to working with the Governments and the people in the countries that we operate in to help fight COVID-19.”
“Through our hospitals in India and particularly in Kerala, we remain committed to provide all the necessary support that is needed to help our Governments and the people fight the pandemic. All our hospitals are now offering support through Tele-health services for people seeking advice on COVID following the WHO and government guidelines. We have also introduced protocols to safeguard our existing patients from potential positive cases that may arrive at our facilities,” said Dr Harish Pillai, CEO- Aster DM Healthcare India.