The Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) ended the contract with two private hospitals in Navi Mumbai after the Public Health department of state government asked to treat all COVID 19 patients under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY). The local body has been asked not to enter in any other agreement for the treatment of COVID patients except for MJPJAY.
After the outbreak of the pandemic, the state government had instructed to take measures at the municipal level. Accordingly, the PMC entered with an agreement with MGM Hospital Kamothe and D Y Patil Hospital in Nerul on May 11 and July 15 respectively for the treatment of COVID patients. The agreement included doctor expenses, medication, meals, and other charges. The civic body also paid around Rs 1.5 crore to MGM Hospital Kamothe for the treatment of COVID patients.
Meanwhile, the state government had already announced that all COVID 19 patients would be treated under the MJPJAY. Kantilal Kadu, president of Panvel Sangharsh Samiti raised on the continuation of treatment of COVID 19 patients under the old agreement. “Since the state government is already spending crores under the MJPJAY, why a civic body will spend separately,” says Kadu. He added that he had written to the state government regarding this. “The decision will help the poor as they will get treatment free of cost and the civic body would also save money,” added Kadu.
A senior civic official confirmed that the agreement with these two hospitals have ended. According to officials, since the civic body did not have its own medical infrastructure, it had to rely on others. “Since we had to make beds available for COVID-19 patients, we entered with the agreement,” said a senior civic official. However, after the state government direction, the civic body ended the agreement.
As per the instruction from the state Public Health Department, the state government has already paid the insurance the premium for the treatment under MJPJAY and as per the order on May 23, all COVID patients can be treated under the scheme. The civic body or local agency will take over 80 percent of beds of a private hospital for the treatment of COVID 19 patients.
