Wipro, a leading global information technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Maharashtra under which it will re purpose one of its information technology campuses in Hinjewadi, Pune to a 450-bed intermediary care COVID-19 hospital in four weeks and hand it over to the state government by May 30.
“This humanitarian contribution by Wipro will further strengthen our medical infrastructure and benefit the medical fraternity who are at the forefront of our fight against the pandemic,” said Uddhav Thackeray, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.
The hospital will be converted back to an IT facility after a year. The 450-bed hospital, to be equipped to treat moderate cases, will include 12 beds to stabilize critical patients before shifting them to a tertiary care facility. This is an independent, isolated COVID-19 dedicated complex that also includes 24 well-appointed rooms to accommodate doctors and medical staff.
Wipro will provide the physical infrastructure, medical furniture and equipment besides appointing an administrator and skeletal support staff to help operationalise the hospital quickly with the required medical professionals.
“We are completely committed to supporting the country’s response to the pandemic and believe that we must all work together to deal with this crisis and minimize its human impact. We stand firmly with the Government of Maharashtra in its battle against COVID-19,” said Rishad Premji, Chairman, Wipro Limited.
It was back in early April when Wipro Ltd, Wipro Enterprises Ltd and Azim Premji Foundation, together committed Rs 1,125 crore towards tackling the unprecedented health and humanitarian crisis arising from the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. These resources will help enable the dedicated medical and service fraternity in the front line of the battle against the pandemic and in mitigating its wide-ranging human impact, particularly on the most disadvantaged of our society.
