Covid-19 ICU beds double to 1,000, but experts say more needed

MUMBAI: Even as the number of ICU beds meant for Covid-19 patients in the city has more than doubled to 1,097 over the past fortnight, experts say more are needed.


Not surprisingly then, a senior BMC official told TOI there are plans to increase ICU beds in the coming days. "This will be done by starting ICU facilities in jumbo Covid-19 centres created at MMRDA grounds at Bandra-Kurla Complex and Nesco in Goregaon,'' said the official.

"Any patient whose vital parameters are below normal would need an ICU bed," said a civic doctor.

Infectious diseases specialist Dr Om Srivasatava, a member of the state government's Covid-19 task force, said there is still an acute need for more ICU beds. A south Mumbai private hospital, which increased its ICU beds from 14 to 42 in the past few weeks, said it still has a waiting list of patients. "It is shorter than before, but we still do have a list," said a doctor.

On May 13, before the state directed all private hospitals to allow the BMC to take over 80% beds, including ICU, the corporation had 438 ICU beds dedicated for Covid-19 patients.

Thereafter, private hospitals started adding ICU beds. The BMC's 24 ward-level offices, too, started "acquiring" 100 beds, including 20 ICU beds, in local nursing homes.

These measures resulted in ICU beds increasing steadily. For instance, by May 26, the BMC had managed to raise the ICU bed capacity to 644.

The experience in other global cities has shown roughly 3% of Covid-19 patients get severely ill and need intensive care and/or ventilator support. Considering that Covid-19 deaths in Mumbai stand at 1,519, doctors say a huge number of patients will benefit from an ICU facility.

Vishwas Mote, assistant municipal commissioner of K-West Ward, said they managed 70 beds for Covid-19 patients, including ICU, from BSES Municipal General Hospital in Andheri West. "A letter has been sent to more hospitals."

In G-North Ward (Dadar and Mahim), assistant municipal commissioner Kiran Dighavkar has set up a dedicated 200-bed Covid-19 healthcare centre opposite Mahim Nature Park for mildly ill patients. "Now, we are focusing on getting ICU beds in nursing homes in the locality."