Pune Infa Watch: PCMC mulls improving peripheral hospitals, strengthening fire brigade
The PCMC has restarted Masulkar Eye Hospital which was used as a warehouse during the Covid crisis; PCMC to bank on social impact bonds for funds.
The PCMC has also decided to improve the infrastructure of the dentistry department at YCM hospital. (File) The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has planned to strengthen its peripheral hospitals and fire brigade apart from setting up a second 750-bed hospital at Moshi in Pune.
Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh who announced the proposal during his recent budget presentation said that the aim was to help the people who otherwise would have to run from one end of the city to another in search of medical help.
After the budget presentation, the PCMC first restarted the Masulkar Eye Hospital which was being used as a warehouse during the Covid period to store ventilators and other equipment.
“The eye hospital was restarted on a priority basis. It will deal with all eye-related treatments,” he said, and added that it would reduce the burden of YCM Hospital where more than 150 patients turn up daily.
The Masulkar Eye Hospital of the civic body has four operation theatres and has been set up at a cost of Rs 25 crore, officials said. The PCMC had come under fire from corporators and activists for not starting the eye hospital despite the huge expenditure incurred on it. The civic administration said that the hospital will also serve as the training centre for post-graduate students.
The PCMC has also decided to improve the infrastructure of the dentistry department at YCM hospital. “We will improve the facilities and provide adequate staff at the dentistry department,” the PCMC chief told The Indian Express.
Singh said the peripheral hospitals which have already been renovated would see further improvements. “The patients should get treatment at their nearest civic hospital. Therefore, all efforts are being made to improve medical facilities at these peripheral hospitals,” he said.
The PCMC administration is banking on social impact bonds to improve the facilities at its hospitals. “We will float social impact bonds to get funds,” he said.
The civic body has also decided to revitalise its fire brigade. “Currently, the fire brigade has a shortfall of vehicles. We have decided to purchase at least 13 fire fighting vehicles with advanced equipment. This will include TTL fire vehicle, 70 metre Aerial ladder Platform fire vehicle, fire tender, water cannon, advance rescue van, foam tender, and DCP tender,” Singh said.
The PCMC administration said it will purchase 86 types of fire equipment as per the norms of the National Disaster Management Authority. “We will also conduct a vulnerability assessment of different areas. We are also in the process of roping in an IT-enabled Fire Response System,” the PCMC chief said.
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