The civic body has started preparing for the Centre's projection of a high number of COVID-19 cases in the coming days. To ensure full preparedness it has beefed up work on new facilities to treat the infected patients and has also started recruiting additional medical staff.
Senior BMC officials said that a major recruitment drive is underway to hire over 3000 doctors, nurses, and ward boys on a contractual basis. BMC is planning to recruit medical staffs from the green zones across the state. A senior civic official said that a circular has been sent out to the deans of medical colleges and ward officials for the recruitment.
The civic officials said that they are preparing for about 70,000 COVID-19 cases over the next two weeks. “We will hire doctors who are part of Indian Medical Association as well as intern, post graduate students from private medical colleges for the COVID-19 care centers. Since the centers are meant for asymptomatic patients there is no need for specialized medical and can be run by a basic medical staff.” the senior BMC official added. He also said that the doctors, nurses and ward boys will be hired for a period of three months.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said that there will be some restrictions for doctors. Only specialists below the age of 55 years will be allowed as a precautionary measure, he said adding, “ The new recruits will work in three shifts.”
The BMC is setting up CCCs for asymptomatic patients in various schools and colleges. Meanwhile, city’s largest center with a capacity of 1,000 beds is coming up at the MMRDA grounds at BKC.
“The work is underway and we are trying to complete it by next week. The center will have beds and oxygen supply but no ventilator.” An MMRDA official said.
It will also have a laboratory which will be the primary testing center for complete blood count and haematology. The MMRDA official said they will bear the cost of construction while the BMC will provide the staff and other support to run the facility.