Small Pvt Hosps Want To Be Non-Covid Again Or Hybrid

Mumbai: Faced with the prospect of running with empty beds, many smaller private hospitals and nursing homes that had been converted into Covid centres at the peak of the pandemic, have questioned BMC’s diktat to fill up jumbo facilities first before referring patients elsewhere. BMC’s plan to outsource 612 ICU beds in the jumbo facilities to private agencies has confused them.

- Sumitra DebRoy

At least 150 nursing homes and mid-level hospitals here were told by civic authorities to cater to Covid cases early in April, when cases started to mount. While most were running to capacity till two weeks ago, the decline in cases also meant a dip in their occupancy rates lately. “We want more clarity on whether these hospitals can go back to becoming non-Covid hospitals, or if they can run hybrid centres, where they treat Covid and non-Covid cases,” said Dr Deepak Baid, president, Association of Medical Consultants. Only 55% of the city’s Covid beds are occupied now.