Mumbai, May 5 (IANS): Wipro Ltd will convert one of its Information Technology campuses in Pune into a 450-bed intermediary care Covid-19 hospital within this month and hand it over to Maharashtra government, an official said here on Tuesday.
The transformation of the Hinjewadi IT Campus is expected to be completed by May 30 and the hospital will revert to its original status as an IT facility after one year.
A memorandum to the effect was signed between the state government and Wipro Ltd, whereby the company will provide the physical infrastructure, medical furniture and equipment besides an administrator and skeletal support staff to help operationalise the hospital on priority with the requisite medical professionals.
The hospital will be equipped to treat moderate cases, including 12 beds to stabilise critical patients before shifting them to a tertiary care facility.
The independent, isolated Covid-19 dedicated complex also includes 24 well-appointed rooms to accommodate doctors and medical staff.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray lauded the initiative and said the humanitarian gesture by Wipro Ltd will further strengthen the medical infrastructure and benefit the medical fraternity who are at the forefront in the war against the virus.
"We are completely committed to supporting the country's response to the pandemic and believe we must all work together to deal with this crisis and minimize its human impact," said Wipro Ltd Chairman Rishad Premji.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Pune Collector Naval Kishore Ram, CEO of Pune Zilla Parishad Ayush Prasad on behalf of the state government and Wipro Ltd Senior Vice-President and Global Head-Operations Hari Prasad Hegde.
Last month, Wipro Ltd Wipro Enterprises Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation committed Rs 1,125 crore towards tackling the unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis in the form of coronavirus pandemic.
Wipro Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation are engaged in Covid-19 related relief works benefitting 34 lakh people, including in different parts of Maharashtra in Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Waluj, Amalner, Ahmednagar, Akola, Beed, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.