BMC decided adds 200 ICU and 100 ventilator beds

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation plans to add 200 ICUs and 100 ventilator beds in the next two to three days to meet the growing demand for intensive care units (ICUs) and ventilator beds across Covid hospitals in Mumbai.  Most of the beds are occupied by high-altitude patients, while others have less than one per cent remaining, officials said.

According to the BMC dashboard, 42 of the 2,765 ICU beds are vacant in civil and private hospitals, while only 19 of the 1,415 ventilator beds are vacant. Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said that two out of three calls were about ICU beds and that complaints were received daily from the ward battle room.  Steps to get beds immediately for patients in urgent need. 

Accordingly, we plan to add 200 ICUs and 100 ventilator beds to the existing numbers.  Patients have to follow protocol to get covid beds in the respective hospitals, for which they have to call the ward battle rooms and register,”he said. Kakani said patients need to be patient in receiving corona reports and other patients are more demanding. 

We will add more covid beds as per the demand.  Every effort is being made to increase the number of beds, especially in the private sector. Health experts said many hospitals were complaining of a shortage of ICU beds.  Therefore, as a matter of priority, the civic body should increase the number of ICU beds to provide timely treatment to critically ill patients.  Leading private hospitals such as Lilavati, Nanavati, Saifi and Bombay hospitals have run out of ICU beds and the flow of patients has increased.  

As soon as one patient is discharged from the ICU, we agree with another.  So, we don't have any empty beds now,”said a doctor at a private hospital.  "The BMC will have to think twice if it wants to continue the leap," said Dr. Krishna Kumar, who is in charge of Covid beds in private hospitals.  Gautam Bhansali said.  Since the demand is mainly for private hospitals, BMC may consider converting all hospitals in South Mumbai and its suburbs into Covid facilities.  However, we are learning how many non-Covid patients are in hospitals and what their stay rates are,”he said.