The Punjab Chief Minister on July 28 reviewed preparedness at the new All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bathinda that is set to commence COVID-19 testing in the next two weeks with a daily initial capacity of 180.

For our comprehensive coverage and latest updates on COVID-19 click here.

The testing will be further scaled up to 500 per day within a month of launch. A 30-bedded level II COVID care facility will also become functional within the next one month at the hospital, which is already providing OPD services to patients, including a large number of cancer patients.

The AIIMS Executive Director and CEO briefed the Chief Minister at a virtual meeting over the hospital's preparedness for COVID care and other related issues. Describing it as a highly prestigious institute for Punjab, the Chief Minister said the Bathinda AIIMS would be of immense benefit to large number of patients in the Malwa belt.

Chief Minister assured the AIIMS team of all support from the state government to facilitate COVID care at the facility, where some of the ancillary construction and other works have been delayed due to the outbreak of the pandemic. Chief Minister was informed that Rs 328 crore has been spent so far on the AIIMS construction against the project cost of Rs 925 crore.