New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) India will be adding more medical professionals, including sports physicians, physiotherapists and masseurs, for the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Lok Sabha was told Friday.
In a written reply, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said there is an additional requirement of medical professionals in view of the Commonwealth Games, slated for Oct 3-14 in the national capital.

He said the government proposes to induct more doctors, nurses and paramedical staff for the games.

“The Delhi government is in the process of identifying doctors, including sports physicians, physiotherapists and masseurs from various governmental and non-governmental organisations,” Azad said.

He said a sub-committee on health has been set up by the Organising Committee of the Commonwealth Games with Delhi Health Minister Kiran Walia as the chairperson.

“At each of the stadia, medical centres will be set up with basic emergency care facilities, which will provide on the spot medical care to the athletes and their families and officials,” he said.

Apart from ambulances, first aid posts will be provided at the competition venues to provide on the spot care to the spectators, the minister said.

“About 150 ambulances are being arranged for the city also, which will be functional by July 2010,” he added.

He said hospitals - G.B. Pant Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, are also being upgraded. The three hospitals will have dedicated facilities for the athletes and officials.

“A state of the art Sports Injury Centre is being established at Safdarjung Hospital which is likely to be operational by May 2010,” Azad said.