IAS officers to oversee bed management, services at GMCH, Mayo

Nagpur: The state government has appointed IAS officer Bhagyashree Vispute in charge of Covid-19 War Room of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to oversee management of beds and other services. Similarly, another IAS officer is likely to be appointed for the War Room at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) soon.
Guardian minister Nitin Raut told TOI, “The step is part of the process to develop Centralized Admission System (CAS) for making available beds and treatment to all Covid-19 positive patients. Earlier, dean, medical superintendents and doctors of GMCH and IGGMCH were engaged in management of beds and administrative system. Actually, they should concentrate more on clinical management so IAS officials have been appointed.”
Raut had already appointed four IAS officials for 8 zones of NMC to oversee Covid-19 works, and one more is likely to be roped in for remaining two zones. “Five IPS officers will also be appointed along with IAS officials. My motive is to control deaths, contain spread and reduce doubling rate soon,” he said.
IAS officer of 2017 batch, Vispute has already taken charge of her new assignment. She was working as sub divisional officer at Pandharkawda in Yavatmal district. Another advantage for her is that she has completed BPharm.
Mithali Sethi, sub divisional officer of Melghat, is likely to be appointed at a similar position at IGGMCH.
If one considers municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B, additional municipal commissioner Jalaj Sharma, number of IAS officials in city for Covid-19 will rise to 8 apart from collector Ravindra Thakre and divisional commissioner Sanjeev Kumar, who too concentrate more on the city.
GMCH and IGGMCH always cite shortage of beds even though over 40% beds are vacant. Raut had given permission for hiring more staff, but nothing has moved. For last three days, GMCH is not taking in critical patients citing problems in oxygen supply. The two hospitals have capacity to take care of 1,200 symptomatic positive patients, apart from suspected and non-Covid patients.
Raut said, “A dashboard will be launched soon from which people can know vacancy of beds in hospitals. I asked civic chief to submit revised proposal of Jumbo Covid Hospital so that funds can be approved from the government. I also spoke to leader of opposition Devendra Fadnavis and BJP city president Pravin Datke on Tuesday and sought their cooperation.”
As reported by TOI on Tuesday, NMC has moved ahead with development of War Rooms at 10 zones. Earlier, helpline number for any query or help related to Covid-19 was available at NMC head office. Now, helpline numbers of War Rooms of 10 zones have been launched, which will later be used for CAS.
TOI has been highlighting symptomatic positive patients are finding it difficult to get beds, contact tracing has become negligible, and there is no monitoring of positive patients in home isolation.
The civic chief has delegated powers to assistant commissioners of 10 zones, who can now increase manpower on their level for all works.
All these moves are as per suggestions given by team of experts from Mumbai, including BMC commissioner IS Chahal. The team had also suggested NMC and ZP should convert four-wheelers into ambulances as Covid-19 patients do not require stretchers.
Mayor Sandip Joshi on Tuesday requested RTO to give permission for converting school vans into ambulances. He said it will help provide ready available ambulance service, which is important for giving timely treatment to patients to prevent deaths. He also said it will ensure financial support to owners and drivers of school vans who are in trouble with closure of schools, colleges and coaching classes.