NMMC MAY BEAR THE COST OF REMDESIVIR INJECTION FOR TREATING POOR PATIENTS
The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will bear the cost of Remdesivir injection of poor patients, claimed Pravin Darekar, the opposition leader in the state assembly. Darekar was on a visit to review the arrangements that were in place to combat the pandemic in the satellite city.
While Darekar expressed his satisfaction with the presentation given on the corporation’s preparation to combat COVID-19 by the civic body, he expressed his concerns over the inflated medical bills by private hospitals for COVID treatments.
Darekar said that he discussed a number of issues with the municipal commissioner Annasaheb Misal including who will bear the cost of Remdesivir injection for poor patients. “The municipal commissioner assured that the civic body would bear the cost of Remdesivir injection for poor patients,” said Darekar. He added that the cost of Remdesivir injection comes to at least Rs 40,000 for eight doses. Each dose costs around Rs 5000. A patient requires around 8 to 10 doses depending upon the condition.
Darekar said that he also suggested that the civic body should depute a civic official at every private hospital in the city to help poor patients in getting the treatment and also to check the inflated bills. Meanwhile, Darekar alleged that the civic body failed in procuring doctors and paramedical staff for COVID hospitals. “The civic body created a number of COVID hospitals but it is of no use since there is a lack of doctors, nurses, and other paramedical staff,” said Darekar. He added that there is an urgent need of 60 doctors and around 300 nurses for COVID hospitals in Navi Mumbai.