As cases surge in Panvel municipal limits on one side, civic body is severely hampered by the shortage of experienced doctors on the other
The only fever clinic run by the PMC at Kharghar. File pic
Amid raging novel Coronavirus spread, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) is facing the double whammy of surging infections and shortage of experienced doctors to deal with the grim situation. In November, when the numbers dropped, the civic body terminated the contracts of doctors hired during the first wave. With cases rising again, mostly since the past five days, it is struggling to find medics.
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A constable gets tested for COVID. File pic
Most doctors staying within the PMC have been working at COVID-19 centres outside the jurisdiction as they are getting paid more there. During the first wave, the PMC paid the hired doctors Rs 30,000 monthly, half of what others got in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and other corporations.
The shortage is so severe that there screening has not been happening and societies with patients are not being sanitised or COVID quarantine boards are not being put.
The situation is even worse in Kharghar. There is only one Urban Public Health Centre (UPHC) for a population of 2.50 lakh-3 lakh (Kharghar, Taloja and villages around) and one mobile testing unit. Ideally, it should have four UPHCs and four mobile testing units. One Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) doctor along with a nurse and four ward boys are managing the only fever clinic in Kharghar.
This set up was done as per the census of 2011, said Dr Anand Gosavi, medical health officer, PMC. A proposal has been made to the state health department for more UPHCs in Kharghar. On April 3, the PMC recorded 479 COVID-19 cases and 189 of them were from Kharghar, excluding the Taloja area.
Dr Anand Gosavi, medical health officer, PMC
“The health infrastructure in the PMC is very poor and has only one hospital -- the Sub District hospital in Panvel that has around 95 bed. The Dedicated COVID Health Care Centre at Kalamboli is not operational yet. The PMC is again putting up ads for BHMS/ BAMS doctors and healthcare professionals, but offering only Rs 30,000 for a nine-hour shift and to handle about 150-200 patients daily,” said a doctor.
About the sudden increase in cases, he said, “People who are infected are still roaming in public. Also, there is no screening as the mobile unit is not visiting homes like last year. Instead, suspected patients are being called to the fever clinic for tests, thereby increasing the spread.”
A general physician said, “We have to act fast, or else Kharghar and other PMC areas will witness a massive surge in COVID-19 cases.”
Dr Pankaj Titar said, “The PMC hired me as a medical officer in April 2020, on a monthly contract basis for a consideration of Rs 30,000, and was handling the Primary Health Care Centre in Kharghar. My salary was increased to Rs 50,000 in July when the cases increased but it remained the same till my contract ended in November 2020. The PMC called me again a month later and I worked till January on the same salary.”
"At present, I am more than satisfied working with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), where I am getting paid Rs 60,000 and also get weekly off. Moreover, there is job security," he added.
Dr Sandeep Singh, a homeopathy doctor, said, “I was hired by the PMC at Rs 30,000 monthly salary and since my joining in April last year, I was transferred to various COVID centres." His salary was increased to Rs 50,000 but the contract was terminated abruptly in November. When asked about going back to PMC, Singh said, "No. Right now, I am earning double the salary PMC gave, and has no work pressure.”
Other side
About the Kalamboli COVID centre, Dr Gosavi said the work is almost complete and it will be in operation in the next few days. It has 72 beds, including 12 ICU and 60 oxygen beds. Admitting that they are short-staffed, he said the PMC chief will take a decision in a day or two on revising the pay scale of doctors to be hired. Meanwhile, we have started a dedicated call centre and appointed school teachers, who would contact the suspected COVID patients and inform the UPHC.
Guardian minister speaks
Aditi Tatkare, state minister who is also the guardian minister for Raigad, told mid-day that being a newly formed corporation, the PMC does not have sufficient budgetary provisions. "I am in dialogue with the CM and the health minister for help to get required financial assistance. “We have started a dedicated COVID centre with around 60 beds with oxygen and ventilator facility at Uran. There is a delay in getting fire compliance clearance for Kalamboli centre, due to the Bhandup mishap." She added that the PMC will again start roping in private practitioners and consultants.
2,684
Total no. of active cases in PMC as of Sunday
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