Recently during a Covid-19 review meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Standing Committee, it was revealed that even as beds in government hospitals are available in plenty for COVID-19 patients, the occupancy in private hospital is full.
Vijay Zalke, Chairperson, alleged that there were many complaints about centralised desk of civic body colluding to refer to patients to private hospital while beds in government-run facility remain unoccupied. Zalke referred to data shared by Dr Yogendra Sawai, Additional Health Officer, NMC, about occupancy data of COVID-19 patients in city. The three big government hospitals — IGGMC, GMCH and AIIMS have just 50 per cent occupancy and even Covid Care Centres at places acquired by the government, very minuscule facility is under occupation. Against these three big hospitals, the occupancy has already reached to its capacity which is quite surprising.
NMC’s Health Department informed the meeting that till date not a single COVID-19 patient was treated at any of NMC’s five hospitals. Zalke informed that some work still remains incomplete at these hospitals and hence patients are not admitted. Zalke also said, Municipal Commissioner had boasted how NMC was ahead of times and first to anticipate hike in COVID-19 cases and prepared itself to face the impending situation. But two months down the line, everything appears hallow and needs deeper introspection.  On this, the civic officials stated that NMC responsibility is limited to provide primary health care while major government hospitals are meant for secondary and tertiary care facility.
COVID-19 beds occupancy.
AIIMS, total beds-64, Patients- 35.
IGGMC, total beds- 600, patients- 324. IGMC, total beds- 600, patients- 306.
Lata Mangeshkar Hospital, total beds- 90, patients- 07.
Shalinitai Meghe Hospital, total beds- 360, patients- 02.
Hope Hospital, total beds- 35, patients- 30.
Seven Star, total beds- 46, patients- 46.
Radiance, total beds- 40, patients- 35.
Wockhardt, total beds- 40, patients- 40.
Orange City, total beds- 32, patients- 04.