BMC ASSURES HC OF COVID PREPAREDNESS

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in its affidavit filed in the Bombay high court (HC) has informed that it has more than 21,000 beds in dedicated Covid hospitals (DCH) and dedicated Covid healthcare centres (DCHC) in the city, of which more than 4,000 beds were vacant. The affidavit, filed in response to the allegations of mismanagement of Covid-19 treatment facilities during the second wave by state and civic authorities, also stated the civic body has sufficient supply of Remdesivir and oxygen for treating Covid-19 patients. BMC also said that it has floated tenders to install oxygen generation plants at 12 hospitals under it to resolve the issue of shortage.

BMC added that the number of Covid testing had gone down due to lockdown restrictions as there were fewer people outside.

A division bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta and justice Girish Kulkarni, while hearing the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by city-based lawyer Sneha Marjadi through advocates Simil Purohit and Arshil Shah, was informed by senior advocate Anil Sakhare for BMC that as per court directions, it had filed an affidavit enumerating the various measures initiated by it to tackle the surge in Covid cases during second wave.

The affidavit filed by Dr Mangala Gomare, in-charge executive health officer, addressed the various issues including bed management, supply and availability of Remdesivir, supply and availability of oxygen, Covid-19 testing and crematoriums pertaining to mismanagement raised in the PIL .

The affidavit stated that as of April 27, the total bed capacity in all DHC and DCHC was 21,706, of which 17,021 were occupied and 4,685 were vacant; thus, the civic body was well equipped for admission of Covid patients.

It also stated that BMC has sufficient supply of Remdesivir. BMC on April 27 had a stock of 13,110 vials whereas its requirement for a seven-day period was around 12,033, leading to excess which was sent to Pune (500 vials) and Thane (1,100).

HC on Thursday sought details of fire audits of hospitals and posted hearing on May 4.