In a very positive development, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to allow four private hospitals in Mumbai to vaccinate employees on their premises.
In addition to the 23 centres at government hospitals and COVID-19 jumbo facilities, Jaslok Hospital, The Cama and Albless Hospital, Dr LH Hiranandani Hospital, and Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital have started administering vaccines to their staff.
The decision comes after it was observed that many private practitioners were hesitant in taking the vaccine, and the BMC wanted to ensure that they were given all the facilities required, revealed civic sources.
The four private hospitals are among 20 private hospitals shortlisted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to join the vaccination drive. Sixteen more private hospitals are expected to set up vaccination centres for their healthcare staff.
However, the three private hospitals involved saw a turnout of only 18 per cent, 31 per cent and 13 per cent. Out of the total 1.7 health care workers registered on the Co-Win application, so far about 95,000 have been vaccinated, and of these over 500 have received both the doses of Covishield.
On Wednesday 59 per cent of health workers were vaccinated. The Jaslok, Hiranandani, and HN Reliance hospitals have been involved in this drive.
Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner said, “We are taking all the necessary efforts to engage even private practitioners and I have instructed staff to hold a dialogue and arrange meetings with all the operators of private hospitals and increase the number of health care workers getting inoculated.”
A total number of 1,34,025 beneficiaries have been inoculated so far. The BMC had expected 8,775 health and frontline workers to come, out of which 8,400 turned up – 96 per cent of the turnout.
Surjitt Sahani
