Smart Cities Mission to support Karnataka in tackling COVID-19

The Smart Cities Mission, which was set up for local development and technology innovations, will henceforth work closely with the Karnataka Health Department to control the spread of COVID-19 in the State. The focus will be on strengthening health infrastructure, providing medical equipment and developing information technology solutions. A meeting in this regard was chaired by Health Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pandey with Charulata Somal, State Mission Director, Smart Cities Mission.

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“The Mission has proposed to upscale its current projects to handle the COVID-19 situation, to upgrade infrastructure and equipment at district hospitals, and to procure ambulances and equipment. It also plans to use an Integrated Command and Control Centre model along with other IT interventions to upgrade the existing e-health system, and will be involved in the hardware procurement for an e-Hospital Management System. A detailed plan of action is being worked out in consultation with BBMP Special Commissioner, Health, Ravi Surpur, and other senior officials from the health department,” Pankaj Kumar Pandey said.

Under the Smart Cities Mission, health projects that have already been completed include a 30-bed hospital in Vantamuri, Belagavi. Two parts of a trauma centre have also been constructed in Belagavi, while a 37-bedded ICU has been installed at Wenlock Hospital, Mangaluru. IT innovations include a Digital Nerve Centre in Tumakuru and a Smart Healthcare Centre in Hubballi-Dharwad. Two upgradation projects at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru, and the construction of an additional floor at Lady Goschen Hospital in Mangaluru, have also been tendered. The construction of a Trauma Centre in Tumakuru, and a 10-bed hospital in Vadagaon, Belagavi, is going on.