To private hospitals, the BMC asks to organize for optimal bed capacity required to diagnose Covid patients

As Covid-19 instances increase dramatically in the city, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has urged 142 private hospitals in the city to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Chahal has ordered all private hospitals to prepare beds in case the situation worsens. Based on the experience in South Africa, where the Omicron form was initially found, the third wave is expected to last four to five weeks in the city, according to BMC authorities.

According to city officials, there is a surge in demand for beds at private hospitals because the majority of cases are reported from high-rises. In addition, according to the rule, 80 percent of total beds and 100 percent of ICU beds must be designated for COVID-19 patients, according to a circular released on Wednesday. The BMC also stated that no asymptomatic patient without comorbidity would be assigned a room in a private hospital and that the discharge period for asymptomatic patients would be reduced from seven days to three days. The circular also urged hospitals against overcharging patients, citing the Epidemic Act of 1897 and the Disaster Management Act of 2005 as examples.

"Given the fact that around 10-12 percent of patients are symptomatic every day," Chahal said in a note to the city's 142 private hospitals, "the need for hospital beds is likely to surge rapidly soon." Because non-slum areas account for more than 95 percent of patients, there is a huge demand for beds in private hospitals. Patients are hesitant to visit BMC hospitals and Covid jumbo hospitals."

"This has reached to my attention that symptomatic Covid patients are pointing out the necessity for Covid beds at private institutions," Chahal added. As a result, all private hospitals are hereby required to promptly increase the number of Covid beds to the greatest level seen during the second wave's peak in 2021."

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