Railways to produce hospital beds, stretchers, IV stands

To meet the growing requirement of essential medical items in the wake of coronavirus epidemic, the Indian Railways has decided to manufacture at its production units hospital beds, stretchers, IV stands, ventilators, etc.

"In the wake of pandemic Covid-19, the railway, in consultation with production units and zonal railway workshops, has decided to use its facilities, like Chittaranjan Loco Works, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi, and Rail Wheel Factory, Yelehanka, to manufacture these essential items" to help combat the pandemic, the Indian Railways said in a statement, here on Tuesday.

The Railway Board has issued necessary instructions to the General Managers of these production units to explore the feasibility to manufacture items, like simple hospital beds (without mattress), medical trolleys for hospitals and quarantine facilities, IV stands, stretchers, hospital footsteps, hospital bedside lockers, washbasins with stands, ventilators, PPEs like masks, sanitizers, and water tanks.

The Ministry said the Railway Board had asked the General Managers to explore the feasibility in consultation with the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) and manufacture these items in large quantities.

On Tuesday, the Covid-19 toll in India rose to 10, and the number of affected persons was 500. IANS