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Mumbai: Masks made mandatory in all BMC hospitals from April 11 amid rise in Covid cases

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Starting from April 11, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has directed that it is compulsory for employees, patients, and visitors at civic or private hospitals to wear three-ply or N95 masks. BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has directed all hospitals to implement the directive with immediate effect. The directive has been issued in view of the current spike in Covid cases in the city.

Further, senior citizens have been advised to wear masks in public places and crowded spots. The advisory comes after the Union ministry of health has indicated the possibility of an increase in Covid cases in May.

IMA issued circular stating directives about physical distance

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has issued a circular stating that people should avoid hugging, kissing and shaking hands and maintain at least a metre of physical distance. The IMA has further said that doctors should avoid prescribing antibiotics since these have no role in the treatment of Covid.

Chahal’s directives

“It is mandatory for all employees, patients, and visitors in municipal hospitals to wear masks. All municipal employees should also wear masks as a precautionary measure. Meanwhile, guidelines on home isolation will be re-issued. Moreover, all aspects of Covid preparedness, such as Covid testing, ward war rooms, availability of oxygen and medicines and Covid preparedness in private hospitals, were also reviewed,” Chahal said.

Chahal also stated that although it was not mandatory, those above 60 years of age should wear masks as a precautionary measure, in crowded places. “We have also given strict instructions that patients admitted for surgery at the hospital will have to undergo RT-PCR testing and if such a patient tests positive and the surgery is not an emergency, then it must be postponed.

BMC Executive Health Officer Dr Mangala Gomare said, “We have been urging senior citizens and people with comorbidities to wear masks, so as to avoid contracting infections. We have been directed to increase Covid testing and also check stocks of testing kits.”

Essential equipment need to stock up as safety measure

The central purchase department should review the availability of gloves, masks, PPE kits, as well as the stock of medicines and other medical equipment required by all the hospitals of BMC and commence the purchasing process, if required. It should be ensured that there will be no shortage of any medical requirement

As the number of Covid patients increases, the need for intensive care may also increase. It is therefore important for all the hospitals to examine and audit their medical oxygen plants to ensure that these are functioning well and there is a balance between the demand and supply of oxygen, at all times

All ward war rooms, which have played a vital role in patient management during previous waves of Covid, should be urgently reviewed to ensure that they are functional with all the necessary manpower and machinery to deal with any situation.

The health department should re-issue guidelines regarding home isolation of Covid-19 patients. The assistant commissioners of the concerned wards should also review medicine stocks and the availability of manpower in HBT clinics.

Pre-monsoon works like desilting, road repairs, etc., should be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Coordination officers should be appointed at the ward-office level for the organisation of ‘Matrushakti Mahila Melava’ by the department of women and child welfare.

The additional municipal commissioner (projects) and deputy commissioner (infrastructure) should regularly review pre-monsoon works, including the concretisation of roads. The additional municipal commissioner (city) should review the appointment of ‘swachhtadoots’ and the construction of new public toilets.

health

Mumbai Tragedy: Elderly Man Suffers Heart Attack In Andheri; Dies Before Reaching Hospital Due To Unavailability Of Ambulance

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Mumbai: A 73-year-old Andheri resident, Steven Fernandes, suffered a fatal heart attack in the early hours of Thursday as his family struggled to arrange an ambulance in time. Despite living just five minutes from a private hospital and 20 minutes from the civic-run Dr. R.N. Cooper Hospital, critical minutes were lost due to an unresponsive emergency service and delays from a private ambulance.

“At 2 am, my husband and I were frantically calling every number we could find for an ambulance,” Mohua Gupta, Fernandes’ daughter-in-law, told media. Their first attempt was to dial 108, the state emergency response service, but the call either didn’t go through or connected to 103, the police helpline. With no help forthcoming, the family turned to an online search, which led them to a private ambulance vendor from Andheri East.

Relief Turns Into Distress Due To Ambulance Delay

Relieved that someone had agreed to come, the family focused on Fernandes, who lay unconscious. Moving him without assistance was impossible, as he weighed over 100 kg. However, their relief turned to distress when the private ambulance took over 40 minutes to arrive, despite the lack of traffic at that hour.

Upon arrival, the ambulance lacked essential medical equipment. “There was only a driver and a helper, no paramedic, no physician, not even a stretcher. Just a rubber mat for him to lie on,” Gupta told media. There was also no oxygen supply or masks, which are critical for cardiac emergencies.

Adding to their frustration, before even shifting the patient, the ambulance service sent a text message demanding Rs 5,500 for the trip. “We were shocked. After protesting, they reduced the charge to Rs 2,500, but we had no choice but to pay,” she recalled.

Patient Passed Away Before Reaching Hospital

Shortly after the private ambulance left, the family dialed 108 again. This time, the call was diverted to Cooper Hospital, and an official ambulance was dispatched. However, it took another 30 minutes to arrive. By then, the crucial Golden Hour, the first 60 minutes after a heart attack, when timely medical intervention can be life-saving, had passed. Fernandes’ pulse had flatlined by the time he reached the hospital.

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Crime

‘Justice will prevail’: Father of R.G. Kar doctor on Calcutta High Court’s order to CBI

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Kolkata, March 24: With The Calcutta High Court on Monday directing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a comprehensive report on the rape and murder of the junior doctor of the R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital, the victim’s father welcomed the court’s intervention.

“The judge has asked the CBI to determine how many people were involved and take further action. They have been directed to present the case diary in court on Friday. We trust the judiciary and believe that justice will prevail,” the father said.

The parents had moved the court raising concerns raised over the slow pace of the investigation and alleged attempts to shield those responsible.

The father also criticised the state government’s inconsistent stand, saying: “Sometimes they say there is no objection, other times they raise objections. We don’t understand their position. What investigation did they conduct in the first five days? Do they even have the right to question the probe?”

The victim’s mother also expressed dissatisfaction with the probe, alleging that her daughter was tortured at the hospital for refusing to accept fake medicines, injections, and saline.

“The CBI has not been able to conduct a proper probe yet. From the beginning, we maintained that Sanjay Roy was not the only accused of my daughter’s murder. Her colleagues, VP, Sandeep Ghosh, and others are involved in this institutional murder,” she claimed.

She further alleged that the state’s Mamata Banerjee government had been obstructing the investigation since August 9, despite her daughter being a government employee who died while on duty.

“The Health Minister and the Chief Minister were responsible for identifying those involved. But from day one, there have been efforts to cover up the matter. However, we will not give up. There may be delays, but we will get justice,” she asserted.

The Supreme Court, which is hearing the case, had recently permitted parallel hearings in the case at the Calcutta High Court, following which the victim’s parents approached the court with a fresh plea questioning the CBI’s progress.

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health

Delay in construction of Bhiwandi maternity and child hospital, Health Minister orders Rais Shaikh to visit hospital with government officials

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Mumbai: After the issue of delay and irregularities in the construction of maternity hospital in Bhiwandi was raised in the Assembly, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar announced that local MLA Rais Shaikh will personally visit the hospital along with senior officials and necessary action will be taken on his report. Abitkar announced that he will work to equip the hospital and arrange personnel there to make it operational as soon as possible.

Abitkar made this remark while responding to the issue raised by Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh during the Q&A session in the Assembly on Wednesday. Bhiwandi city and rural areas have a population of 1.8 million, yet there is only one IGM hospital. MLA Rais Shaikh said that this hospital is able to provide service to only 27 percent of the women of the area, while the remaining 73 percent women have to go to Mumbai and other places for treatment.

Highlighting the delay and irregularities in the construction of the Mother and Child Hospital, MLA Rais Shaikh said that the deadline for this project is 400 days. Today, 376 days have passed since the work order was issued, but only 36 per cent of the work has been completed. Is it possible for the government to complete the remaining 74 per cent work in just 24 days? MLA Rais Shaikh said that despite the huge delay, no action has been taken against the responsible officials or contractors.

Will the government take action against those responsible for the delay and poor quality work? How many more days will it take to complete this project? What will happen to the equipment and manpower required for the hospital? MLA Rais Shaikh demanded that a parallel process be initiated so that the hospital can start functioning as soon as possible.

Responding to various issues raised by Shaikh, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar suggested that MLA Rais Shaikh should visit the hospital within a month along with the Deputy Director and Superintending Engineer. A report of this visit will be prepared. Action will be taken against the irregularities mentioned in the report and your suggestions will be implemented to start the hospital as soon as possible. The work of the mother and child hospital is expected to be completed by November. We will soon place the necessary orders for the required equipment and manpower, Abitkar said.

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