Mumbai: Soon, another civic hospital is likely to be converted into a COVID hospital, a proposal for which has been sent to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
Health officials said they have selected Nair Hospital, as it has 1,600 beds and 83 ventilators, which will facilitate the treatment of several corona patients at the same spot.
Currently, Mumbai has 2,043 positive corona patients, of which 116 have succumbed to COVID-19 till April 16. However, every day, in hotspots like Dharavi and Worli, new cases are detected. Keeping this in mind, the BMC is preparing.
“In the event that cases may increase in the city, we must be in readiness, admit patients and provide treatment. Therefore, officials plan to convert one of the hospitals or medical colleges into a COVID hospital,” said an official.
Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean, Nair hospital and medical director of civic hospitals said they had sent a proposal to the BMC, seeking permission to convert the hospital into a corona treatment facility. They have 1,600 beds and 800 doctors who will be deployed at the hospital.
“Once the proposal is approved, there will be another hospital fully dedicated to corona patients,” he said. Currently, Kasturba, Rajawadi, Kurla Bhabha, Trauma Care and SevenHills Hospitals are the dedicated corona treatment centres, where more than 1,000 patients are being cared for.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said for now, Nair was on the list of hospitals to be converted into COVID hospitals. “I have received the proposal, but talks are underway. If cases spiral, we will have to turn Nair hospital into a dedicated corona treatment centre,” he said.