Mumbai: Over 2,000 beds in private hospitals for COVID-19 patients

Vaccinations such as at Nair Hospital seen here on Wednesday are on in full swing and the union government has also allowed those over 45 years to be inoculated from April. Pic/Ashish Raje

At least 2,450 more beds will be allotted in private hospitals for COVID-19 after the municipal commissioner asked them to start allotting beds to these patients. Of these, 1,000 were added on Friday and the rest will be added this Thursday. The BMC had instructed private hospitals on Friday to allot more beds for COVID patients just as it was done in July last year.

Though the percentage of symptomatic patients who need hospitalisation has not increased more than 20 per cent, the surge in overall cases is so high that there could be a bed crunch. The city has been witnessing more than 3,000 cases every day. Right now, the number of active patients is 25,372 out of which 6,609 are symptomatic and 499 are critical. But the number of beds occupied is 7,949. "Some seniors above the age of 60 years and people with comorbidities may need hospitalisation even if the symptoms are mild, for precautionary measures," said a health officer of the BMC.

Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has asked private hospitals to start allotment of beds for COVID patients and inform the BMC about it. "We expect 2,450 more beds from private hospitals to add to the current bed strength. The data has started coming, the process will be complete till Thursday evening," said Chahal.

Government tariff
Private hospitals have to follow the 80:20 formula where patients on 80 per cent of beds will be charged on the basis of government charges. The corporation will appoint two CAs to solve the complaints of overcharging.

The admissions in private hospitals will be carried out only through the BMC's war room. Walk-in admission can be done for urgent care, but the hospitals have to inform the ward war room immediately. The BMC emphasised that no patients will remain in hospital after a negative test result.

Beds in the city
Bed capacity on Tuesday: 14,467
Occupied beds: 7,949
Available beds: 6,518
Ventilators available: 966
Occupied: 286