Ram Mandir Pran Pratishtha: Beds reserved at district hospitals, AIIMS experts training doctors

Ayodhya: Ahead of the consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, beds have been reserved at city-based, district hospitals and the medical college here, and specialists from the AIIMS have provided focused emergency response training to the doctors at healthcare institutions in Ayodhya. 

These beds have been reserved for the guests, who will attend the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at the newly-built Ram temple in Ayodhya on January 22, officials said.

Over 7,000 guests have been invited to attend the consecration ceremony.  

Ayodhya City has one government healthcare centre -- the over 120-year-old 100-bed Sri Ram Hospital -- which is located near the Ramjanmabhoomi temple site along Ram Path.

"All protocols have been decided which will be followed in case any patient care is required. If anyone associated with the event faces any health emergency, the first place they will be taken to is the Sri Ram Hospital, where beds have been reserved," a senior official told PTI here.

In case, a referral is needed, the patient will be sent to Ayodhya District Hospital and if further treatment is needed for any speciality then the patient will be taken to the Rajarshi Dasrath Medical College and Hospital at Darshan Nagar, he said.

"We have 550 beds at the medical college hospital, out of which 50 has been already reserved and, it will be increased to 200 beds by January 22. Rest will be used for regular patients," Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the college's hospital told PTI.

He said that a batch of about 100 doctors, including those from the medical college, were imparted training in emergency response and trauma by the doctors from the AIIMS-Delhi which took place about ten days ago.

"Besides, an MoU has been signed with a private firm and 50 ambulances, both of ALS and BLS types, have been brought to Ayodhya and stationed at designated points. Doctors, who have come from outside Ayodhya, have been deputed to man 20 booths, which will provide basic healthcare intervention in case of injury or any health issues," Singh added.

Ayodhya has two British-era district hospitals, one each for male and female patients, located in Faizabad town.

Dr Brij Kumar, Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) of the District Hospital (Male), said this district hospital has 212 beds and the female one has 268 beds.

"Currently, about 25 beds have been reserved at our hospital and it is planned to reserve about 20 per cent beds by January 22 so that they can cater to the guests, who will gather in Ayodhya for the mega ceremony," he told PTI.

The district hospital (male) has a team of doctors, including a cardiologist, three physicians, three orthopaedic surgeons, two pediatricians and two ENT surgeons, Kumar said, adding it is cold season so "our doctor will be alert".

The CMS of the district hospital (male) added that "elective surgery lined up at our hospital will be halted" for some days in view of the big event from January 20.

Besides some of the senior doctors from the Sri Ram Hospital, the two district hospitals have received specially training on medical emergency response from doctors of the AIIMS, Kumar said.

The training took place at the medical college campus here, he added.

"From the Centre's side, all preparations to assist the state government will be there if they need anything. All India Institute doctors and emergency response teams will work here with the state government. The state government has also augmented emergency beds and oxygen facilities and the specialist doctors will be brought in. So, the preparations are underway from both the Centre and state sides," a senior Central government official had earlier told PTI.

Sources said 50 beds out of the 268 beds have been reserved at the Ayodhya district hospital (female).

PTI visited the two district hospitals on Thursday evening and the wards reserved, where beds and oxygen cylinders and other medical equipment were kept.

Sources said ambulances in a staggered manner will be kept on stand by at regular distances from the temple complex site.

At least 10 basic life support system-equipped ambulances from the district hospitals' side have been kept reserved for the January 22 event, a source said, adding advance life support-equipped ambulances will also be positioned through other agencies.

Medicine stocks have been augmented, another source said, adding, 7,000 is a huge number of people and it is cold season and many elderly guests are also expected, so arrangements are being made accordingly.

After the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony, over a lakh of devotees are expected to descend in the temple town from January 23 onwards.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak had recently told reporters here that all arrangements being made for the devotees, who will come for 'darshan' of Ram Lalla in Ayodhya, whether it is for staying, drinking water, protection from cold and medicines.

"Ayodhya is ready to host the devotees of Ram Lalla. All security parameters decided, there is fullproof security arrangements. On the healthcare front, all arrangements been made. Extra doctors have been deployed at the hospitals, extra ambulances arranged, we have made an arrangement for a CATH lab. We have also taken assistance of private doctors".