Thackeray orders officials to regulate ambulances, asks to give live updates on availability of beds
Mumbai: Following complaints of exorbitant fees charged by ambulance services in the wake of Covid outbreak, Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday directed officials to regulate ambulances. He also directed the hospitals to display boards giving live updates on occupancy and availability of beds. The CM held virtual meeting with bureaucrats, who have been appointed to coordinate with the private hospitals in fight against the coronavirus.
The Maharashtra Government had acquired 80 per cent beds of the private hospitals in Mumbai for the treatment of the COVID-19 patients. Mr. Thackeray said that during an initial stage of outbreak of Coronavirus, the complaints of non-availability of the beds have been reported. After acquiring private hospitals, such complaints have now been reduced. “Now the focus should be on patient care for which ambulance services need to be regulated and improved, he said.
Mr Thackeray also held a meeting with representatives of NGOs in which he appealed NGOs to help the government machinery combat the coronavirus pandemic, especially in slums in Mumbai. “NGOs can adopt localities and act as a bridge between people and the administration," he said. "Strong coordination and united efforts of people, NGOs and the government can turn the tide against the virus,” he said.
“I have already given directions to set up Coronavirus Vigilance Committees at the village level. NGOs in Mumbai should work to spread awareness about monsoon-related ailments, importance of hygiene and social distancing protocol among people,” he said.
The pandemic was brought under control in Dharavi thanks to several measures including disinfection and sanitisation of public toiletssix times a day, Thackeray said.
Maharashtra’s COVID-19 tally rose to 2,30,599 on Thursday with the addition of 6,875 new cases, while 219 deaths - 68 of them in Mumbai - took the toll to 9,667, the state health department said.
Out of the total 6,875new cases, Mumbai recorded 1,268, Pune city 1,130, Aurangabad city 122 and Nashik city 173, among others. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), which includes Mumbai city and its adjoining areas, accounted for the highest cases at 4,084, taking the total to 1,59,662, while the fatality count rose to 6,918 after 159patients died, the statement said.
Mumbais case count stood at 89,124 and deaths at 5,132.
