Nagpur: With the city facing a severe bed crisis and also witnessing a consistent rise in active Covid-19 patients, public representatives, officials and private hospitals have separately facilitated the adding of 496 beds to the existing capacity. Another 1,846 are likely to be added in the coming days.
Also in city’s arsenal on Sunday to tackle the pandemic will be 125 ventilators and a mobile testing laboratory in the next five days with a capacity to conduct 2,000 tests per day.
There are 8,128 beds available for Covid patients as on Saturday in the district. This will go up to 10,470 beds if the plans materialize but will still be short to meet the rising requirements.
As on Saturday, active cases were 66,208 in the district. As per state government’s guidelines, 20% need treatment in hospitals which means the requirement is likely to be of 13,242 beds. The active cases are likely to increase if the district continues to register cases at the current rate.
Director of National Cancer Institute Shailesh Joglekar told TOI that 60 beds with oxygen supply are functional at its Jamtha facility. “We will start 25 more beds on Monday, 10 beds in ICU on Wednesday and another 25 beds with oxygen supply on Thursday. There are plans to further increase the beds,” he said.
In a press release, the district administration on Saturday claimed that 436 beds with oxygen supply have been set up at at sub-district and rural hospitals in Nagpur Rural. “1,792 beds are in operation in Nagpur Rural as on Saturday. Earlier, there were 1,356 beds. 1,247 beds are with oxygen supply, 88 with ventilators and others are non-oxygen beds,” the release said.
After visiting the ESIC hospital and Haj House, district guardian minister Nitin Raut instructed that a 200-bed Covid hospital and a 100-bed Covid Care Centre be set up. “They will start from Monday,”he said.
Ayurvedic Hospital with 180 beds and Pakwasa with 136 beds are also being converted as Covid hospitals within the next two weeks. “The doctors and healthcare staff of Ayurvedic College are currently posted in other hospitals on Covid duties. So, it will take a couple of more days to arrange the staff. Pakwasa Hospital is run by a private institution and will take a longer time to complete the process,” said Raut.
Raut also said a Jumbo Covid Hospital with 600 beds will be set up at the Divisional Sports Complex. “The agency which developed and is operating the Jumbo Hospital in Pune will submit a proposal on Sunday. We will try to increase beds to 800,” he said.
The guardian minister also said there are additional 420 beds at GMCH (300) and IGGMCH (120) now. “GMCH has totally 900 beds out of which 300 are in ICU. IGGMCH has 580 — 136 in ICU and 122 with ventilators,” said Raut.
In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Kingsway Hospital in association with Centre Point Hotel has planned a CCC with 150 beds at Centre Point Hotel, Ramdaspeth.
Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B said, “We approved CCCs with oxygen and non-oxygen beds at eight private hotels and all are in operation. More CCCs in private hotels will be approved soon.”
Director of Kingsway Hospital Amit Somani said that a CCC with 150 beds will start in a phased manner from Sunday and increase to 200. “40 beds will be with oxygen. We are already operating 220 Covid beds at the hospital. We will shift patients who require oxygen and observation to the hotel. It will help free up beds for critical patients.
“Mild and moderate symptomatic patients will also be admitted directly to the CCC. They will be referred to Kingsway Hospital or any other Covid hospital in case of further treatment. The rates are affordable,” said Somani.
The NMC is also likely to start a Covid hospital at KT Nagar and Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital by Monday. “Two NGOs are supporting this,” said Radhakrishnan. The two hospitals will start with 50 beds and increase to 240 over a period of time.
The KT Nagar hospital was facilitated by MLC Parinay Fuke. “Pravin Jain (activist), myself and others have planned this. The Ramesh Fuke Patil Charitable Trust will run it along with NMC. 3 MD physicians, 7 MBBS doctors, 4 BAMS doctors, 30 nurses and other staff will be made available,” said Fuke.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari has facilitated 125 ventilators from a company. The NMC is likely to receive them on Sunday. They will be distributed to GMCH, IGGMCH and some private hospitals.
Gadkari on Saturday also declared open a 200-bed CCC at Kusumtai Wankhede Hall in Dharampeth. It would be operated by Viveka Hospital. Its director Satish Lade said he has ordered the premises cleaned. “We would be starting the facility next week with a few beds and eventually reach 200 in phases. Only the mild symptomatic patients will be treated here. The minister has assured supply of oxygen cylinders, ventilators and essential drugs like Remdesivir,” he said.
Radhakrishnan said the Mobile Testing Laboratory started its journey from New Delhi to Nagpur on Saturday and is expected to reach within five days. “The company claimed it will do 2,000 RT-PCR tests daily. Rates are likely to be Rs 300 per test. Results will be out within 4-5 hours,” he said.
The district is currently doing 15,000 RT-PCR tests in a day and it takes up to 2 days for the results to be given to the patients.