Amid spike in the Covid-19 curve, the state health department apparently galvanised by change of guard at top has constituted an expert group for controlling the menace of the disease. The department has also set up five working groups for different aspects of the pandemic.  The newly appointe0d secretary of the state health and family welfare department, Amit Negi has included the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the HNB Medical university, Dr Hem Chandra and representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh, Himalayan Hospital Jollygrant, Mahant Indiresh Hospital, Max hospital, Medicity hospital Rudrapur and Brijlal hospital, Haldwani in the expert group.

This group would suggest and assist in the policy decisions for control of Covid-19 in the state. The expert group would hold video conferencing sessions as and when required.

In another effort to streamline functioning in the department, Negi has also ordered for setting up of five working groups in the department.  In the working group ‘Covid-19 testing’ would be headed by secretary, in charge  , Pankaj Kumar Pandey while Mission Director (MD) of NHM, Yugal Kishore Pant and state nodal officer IDSP, Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh would be its members. Similarly Pant, additional secretary Health Arunendra Chauhan, Director General (DH) health services Dr Amita Upreti and Additional MD, NHM, Jharna Kamthan would be in the ‘Resoucre Management Facilitation Group’.

 In surveillance and quarantine strengthening group, VC of HNB medical university Dr Hem Chandra and nodal officer IDSP Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh are included.

In the fourth group, ‘ clinical management and strengthening’, the Principal Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Dundan, Dr Ashutosh Sayana, Dr Anurag Agarwal of GDMC and  representative of AIIMS Rishikesh are included.

 The ‘ training and capacity building’ group includes Additional Director Dr S K Gupta and officer in charge NHM, Dr Fardidurjaffar.