From this week onwards, Mumbai is touted to have 150 ambulances and thereby double its present capacity. These ambulances are to carry the patients suffering from COVID-19. This came after a decision to convert over 72 BEST mini-buses into ambulances and use them to transport patients was taken. The BEST has been asked to keep the buses ready by the end of this weekend.
BEST has installed two buses with oxygen cylinders and the life-support system in the new fleet of modified ambulances. The city of Mumbai is currently running on 66 ambulances of the MEMS to transport the patients of coronavirus along with the asymptomatic cases.
A shortage of ambulances along with the persistent delay in availing hospital beds has led to hours of waiting in some cases. Corporator Alpa Jadhav from Andheri West stated to the media that an ambulance takes two to three hours to reach a COVID-19 patient because the driver and helper have to sanitize the ambulance after every round and wear personal protective equipment each time a COVID-19 patient comes. This is a time-consuming process and further delays the entire pursuit.
The state government in a notification on April 30 had given the BMC’s disaster cell charge the authority to mobilising ambulances for COVID-19 patients. The cell is handling its own fleet of ambulances along with MEMS ambulances.
Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner, speaking to the media, said, “We have asked BEST to modify its buses and add stretchers. From Monday, we will have 150 ambulances. This includes minibusses, BEST buses and regular ambulances.” In mini air-conditioned buses, the last row of seats has been replaced with a stretcher. Furthermore, the driver’s seating area has been cordoned using aluminum sheets to protect him from the virus.
Maharashtra has witnessed 27,554 cases of coronavirus so far with Mumbai reporting 16,768.
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