BMC bans nursing and maternity homes from treating COVID-19 cases

On Wednesday, August 19, the BMC disallowed nursing homes and maternity homes in the city from admitting patients suffering from the coronavirus.

This month, private hospitals have contributed to 41 per cent of the total deaths in the city. Several discussions have taken place between the municipal officials, the state-appointed task force for the coronavirus and top private hospitals in order to make this decision.

This decision is to cover 72 nursing homes across the city. The BMC defines nursing homes as private hospitals with less than 50 beds. Most of these places do not have ICUs or special doctors on call to tend to the patients.

Meanwhile, the nursing homes that are currently treating cases of COVID-19 have been allowed to continue the treatment, however, they have been asked to refer them either to the nearby BMC-run jumbo facility or one of the listed major private hospital.

Moreover, three dedicated hospitals, namely, BYL Nair at Mumbai Central, KEM at Parel and Fortis at Mulund have initiated OPDs to understand the short term implications of the coronavirus disease post the recovery period.

This initiative is being spearheaded by Dr Rahul Pandit, Director-Critical Care, Infectious Disease Specialists Dr Anita Mathew and Dr Kirti Sabnis along with Dr Charudatt Vaity, Consultant-Intensive Care, along with mental health experts and physiotherapists.