State-run Coal India has hired its retired physicians to meet the shortage of medical staff in its hospitals to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Coal India Arm Central Coalfields Ltd has hired seven retired doctors, while Northern Coalfields Ltd and Western Coalfields Ltd have hired two doctors each, an official said.
Eastern Coalfields Ltd and Bharat Coking Coal Ltd have hired a retired doctor each, the official added.
Coal India recently issued guidelines to engage retired physicians and paramedics on a temporary contract basis in its fight against the pandemic, which has spread to almost every country in the country.
"Keeping in view of the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in the hospitals/ dispensaries of CIL/subsidiaries and need to prepare well to prevent/address the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19), the PSU had recently issues guidelines for engagement of retired doctors and paramedical staff of CIL/ Subsidiaries on temporary contract basis," the official said.
These guidelines will only be effective for three months, the official said.
Currently, 839 doctors are working in Coal India, which accounts for over 80 per cent of domestic coal production. Coal India subsidiaries have set up 1,509 insulation beds in eight states.
The eight coal-bearing states are Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Assam.
In addition, Coal India Arm MCL will also fund the COVID-19 hospital, which has 500 beds and 25 intensive care units, in the capital city of Odisha. The hospital was recently inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik of Odisha.
CIL subsidiaries also distributed more than 3.3 lakh face masks to people in and around coal mines.
The PSU has developed a sanitizing chamber to disinfect its mine workers. The Maharatna firm had previously pledged Rs 220 crore to the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Emergency Situation Relief (PM CARES) Fund.
