Now,firemen to get smart cards

The decision regarding the introduction of the card was hastened after the Mumbai Fire Brigade lost a fireman,Abhay Mohite,who succumbed to his injuries following delay in admission to a private hospital. The proposal for introducing Smart Cards for firemen has now been tabled with the civic Standing committee and is scheduled for discussion and approval on Friday.

Injured firemen are given free medical treatment in the civic hospitals. “However to get admitted in private hospitals one has to make an advanced deposit. In arranging for the finances,the firemen might lose crucial time. Smart card will be helpful in such situations where admission and medical treatment will be given on an immediate basis,” a proposal from the civic administration said.

M/S Innovative Consultancy In Health Services that is also in charge of the Smart card for the police,has been recommended to provide the facility to the fire department. An amount of Rs 50 per month for 3000 employees of the fire department—total of Rs 1.5 lakh—¿will be allocated for the Smart cards per month by the BMC.

Mohite was injured on June 5 when he and his colleagues were trying to clear a tree which had fallen on a car. However,when his colleagues rushed him to the nearest private hospital,the administration there refused to get him admitted without the deposit.

His colleagues spent 20 minutes arguing with the hospital management before pooling whatever money they had with them at the time and got him admitted. However,the time wasted there proved fatal for him and he succumbed to his injuries later.