To strengthen Central Government's efforts to reduce novel coronavirus mortality, AIIMS-Delhi has begun tele-consultation guidance to State doctors on Covid-19 clinical management, twice a week starting Wednesday.

The sessions will take place on Tuesdays and Fridays and as many as ten hospitals with more than 1,000 beds will be participating in the first session, said the Union Health Ministry.

Tele-consultation is a critical component of the clinical intervention protocol for Covid-19. The ministry informed a specialist team of doctors from AIIMS, New Delhi shall provide guidance on effective clinical management of Covid-19 patients in the ICUs of different state hospitals through tele/video consultation.

They will handhold the States in clinical management of COVID-19 patients to reduce the case fatality rate, according to the Ministry.

Ten hospitals have been selected, including nine from Mumbai (Maharashtra) and one from Goa. These are: NESCO Jumbo Facility, P South (Phase II); CIDCO Mulund Jumbo Facility – T (Phase II); Malad Infiniti Mall Jumbo Facility, PN (Phase III); Jio Convention Centre Jumbo Facility, HE (Phase III); Nair Hospital; MCGM Seven Hills; MMRDA BKC Jumbo Facility, HE (Phase II); MMRDA BKC Jumbo Facility, HE (Phase I); Mumbai Metro Dahisar Jumbo Facility, T (Phase II); and Govt Medical College and Hospital, Panaji, Goa, the ministry said in a statement.

These hospitals have more than 1,000 beds for virus-infected patients including isolation beds, oxygen supported and ICU beds.