Mumbai: BMC wants every private hospital to vaccinate 1,000 citizens daily

Senior citizens in queue for vaccination at the Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivli on Friday. Pic/Satej Shinde

The authorities are looking to increase the number of private hospitals as vaccination centers, and the target is now to vaccinate 45 lakh citizens in 45 days - at least 1 lakh per day. The city barely touches 40k to 45K every day. The rate of vaccination in the private hospitals is relatively low compared to the government and civic-run hospitals, so the BMC wants each private hospital to vaccinate at least 1,000 eligible citizens daily to achieve the target of 45 days - 45 lakh citizens.

At present, a total of 59 private hospitals in Mumbai have been directed to give COVID-19 vaccinations. However, the total number of vaccinations in these hospitals is hardly 4,000 per day. Therefore, every private hospital should set a target of vaccinating at least 1,000 eligible citizens every day and take action accordingly, instructed Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal on Friday. However, as the vaccines are to be paid for at the private hospitals, many are not turning to them and going to government hospitals.

The municipal commissioner has also suggested that more citizens will get vaccinated if the time of vaccination is changed from 9 am to 9 pm by private hospitals. If adequate arrangements can be made, the option of providing vaccination all 24 hours should be considered. Further, the Central Government is planning to increase the private hospitals for vaccination in Mumbai from the current 59 to 80.

Singh said, "As soon as the approval is received, all government and private hospitals should plan to vaccinate at least 1 lakh citizens every day. Efforts should be made to curb the COVID-19 infection in a timely manner by completing vaccination of 45 lakh eligible citizens within 45 days."