NMMC to increase bed capacity in city by 50%

Keeping 3rd wave in mind, Navi Mumbai civic body set to raise bed availability at Covid centres and hospitals; paediatric wards also to have ICU beds

KEEPING IN MIND DEMAND FOR OXY, ICU, VENTILATOR BEDS IN THE 2ND WAVE, NMMC HAS DECIDED TO INCREASE 2K O2 BEDS, 4K NORMAL BEDS, 800 ICU BEDS

NAVI MUMBAI: The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has planned to increase its capacity of beds by around 50 per cent to prepare for the third wave of Covid, which is likely to hit around September.

Currently, under NMMC, there are 3,287 beds at 17 Covid Care Centres (CCC), 1,678 beds at eight Dedicated Covid Health Centres (DCHCs) and 1,587 beds at 34 Dedicated Covid Hospitals (DCHs).

“The maximum number of active patients during the first wave was 3,688 and in the second wave, 11,605. According to this graph, the number of active patients in the third wave will likely be around 25,000. Assuming that 50 per cent of them will be admitted to the Covid centres, the preparation of 12,000 beds should be planned from now on,” NMMC chief, Abhijit Bangar, said.

Keeping in mind the demand for the oxygen, ICU and ventilator beds during the second wave, NMMC has decided to increase 2,000 oxygen beds, 4,000 normal beds and around 800 ICU beds. Of the 800 ICU beds, around 500 would be NMMC-run. While 40 per cent of the ICU beds will have noninvasive ventilators, another 40 per cent will have manual ventilators as well.

Currently in DCHCs, there are 1,244 oxygen beds, 32 ICU beds and six ventilators, of which 536 oxygen beds (4 per cent), 13 (41 per cent) ICU beds and three (50 per cent) ventilator beds are occupied. Meanwhile at DCHs, there are 2,016 oxygen beds, 665 ICU beds and 239 ventilator beds, of which 1,097 (54 per cent) oxygen beds, 544 (82 per cent) ICU beds and 198 (83 per cent) ventilator beds are occupied.

With the addition of 2,000 oxygen beds and 800 ICU beds, there will be 5,260 oxygen beds and 1,497 ICU beds for the third wave under NMMC.

“Of the 800 ICU beds that would be started, we plan to use around 200-300 of them for paediatric purposes. The paediatric wards that would be started will be at Cidco Exhibition Centre, Nerul and Airoli hospitals and at other places too, if required. The location for the 4,000 normal beds is not a problem as we have many options including the NMMC-run hospitals. The location for the oxygen beds is a challenge as we have specifications for those beds,” Bangar added.

Considering the possible shortage in oxygen, two oxygen plants by NMMC are under way, one at Vashi NMMC hospital and the other at Cidco Exhibition Centre. While the engineering department will look after the civil work of the new facilities, the health department has been instructed to ensure that the new facilities will have the necessary equipment, supply of medicines and special tests for children. NMMC will provide extra training existing staff and hire more staff for the new facilities.