Navi Mumbai: NMMC to set up more COVID centres

An elderly person being administered the COVID-19 vaccine at a hospital in Vashi. File pic

In view of managing the second wave of infections, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has decided to set up COVID care centres at schools and hostels, and increase its bed capacity by over 3,000 in the process. The corporation has also asked private hospitals to increase beds, especially the ICU ones. Currently, the NMMC area has more than 10,000 active cases, majority of which have mild and moderate symptoms.

COVID-19 tests being conducted at a mall in Navi Mumbai. File pic

The civic body has been facing a tough time providing healthcare facilities to COVID-19 patients since February this year and daily about 1,000 patients are getting added to its facilities. The city has 16 big hospitals, including private and civic ones.

Last year the corporation had set up more than 15 COVID care centres at various places, including the Vashi Exhibition Centre. Through these centres, the NMMC had added more than 12,000 beds.

"Since the COVID-19 cases are rising, we are trying to add more beds. Currently, about 4,000 beds are available, but given the rate at which cases are increasing, we will soon have a shortage," said an NMMC official. "On the other hand, most of the ICU-ventilator beds are occupied. We are working on increasing them too," he added.

Civic commissioner Abhijeet Bangar recently reviewed the bed availability in the city and decided to add more ICU beds. Terna Hospital, DY Patil, Reliance, Apollo and Indravati Hospital have been asked to increase their ICU bed capacity. The corporation has also decided to set up COVID centres in schools at Airoli, Ghansoli and Belapur and work for the same would begin soon.

According to a latest review by the NMMC, 40 per cent of the patients occupying ICU beds are from other corporation areas or cities. An official said that as it was not ethical to bar people from accessing them, the corporation had decided to increase the number of beds.

"We are looking at increasing the bed strength by 3,000. But, a major concern is ICU beds, as we will need those. We had meetings with private hospitals and have asked them to add more ICU beds. By this we are trying to add 200 ICU beds by next week," said Abhijeet Bangar, commissioner, NMMC.