PMC to Take Over Seven ICU Beds at Kamala Nehru Hospital, Free Critical Care Soon for Patients
PMC to Take Over Seven ICU Beds at Kamala Nehru Hospital, Free Critical Care Soon for Patients
Free intensive care treatment is set to become a reality for economically weaker patients at Kamala Nehru Hospital, as the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) moves closer to taking direct control of seven ICU beds currently managed by a private agency. The initiative is aimed at strengthening public healthcare services and reducing referrals to other government hospitals.
At present, the civic-run hospital has a 17-bed Intensive Care Unit operated by a third-party firm, where patients are charged as per Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) rates. The PMC health department is now in the process of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the private operator to bring seven of these beds under municipal administration.
Once the agreement is finalised, patients admitted to these seven ICU beds will receive treatment entirely free of cost. This will include intensive care services, consumables, medical equipment, and other necessary procedures. The charges for these patients will be paid directly by PMC to the private agency managing the unit.
Kamala Nehru Hospital is already empanelled under the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), under which several surgeries and treatments are provided without cost. However, the lack of free ICU facilities has so far restricted the hospital’s ability to treat critical cases, often leading to patient transfers to Sassoon General Hospital.
Deputy Health Officer Dr Kalpana Balwant said that bringing ICU beds under PMC control will allow the hospital to handle complicated and high-risk cases in-house. She also informed that construction of a modular operation theatre is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of February. Once ready, the hospital will be able to conduct advanced surgical procedures as well.
Dr Balwant further added that the hospital’s clinical capacity will expand later this year when the first batch of MBBS students from PMC’s medical college begins internship training at the facility.
Chief Health Officer Dr Neena Borade stated that 17 specialist doctors have been recently recruited at Kamala Nehru Hospital. According to her, the direct control of ICU beds by PMC, along with ongoing infrastructure upgrades, will significantly enhance the quality of healthcare services offered to patients.
