How Mumbai took on the virus

The Indian Express     5th December 2020     Save    

Context:  A case study on how Mumbai took on the virus.

Way to deal with a Pandemic like COVID-19: Study from decentralized efforts in Mumbai.

  • Work on the four pillars: Testing, Ambulances, Health infrastructure and Doctors/paramedics.
  • Improve Health Infrastructure: Massive increase in COVID-19 beds and ventilators in Mumbai
  • Plasma banks were created in major hospitals, and the drug protocol was standardized.
  • Testing: 
  • Quick results: In Mumbai, test results within 24 hours was mandated.
  • Door-to-door surveillance: and focused testing
  • Increase number of tests: More than a million RT-PCR tests were conducted in the Mumbai city.
  • Increase number of Ambulances: there was a ten-fold increase in the number of ambulances.
  • Effective use of Doctors/Paramedics: including the retired ones and MBBS interns were deployed.
  • Effective Government policies: 
    • Chase the Virus Policy: To shift high-risk contact from slums to institutional quarantines
    • Decentralized hospital bed management: along with the "Chase the Patient" policy.
  • Mission Save Lives: For hospitalized patients to reduce the mortality rate.
  • Effective hospital management:
  • Senior IAS officers were deputed to hospitals to supervise operations. 
  • a single online dashboard for regulating COVID-19 beds in private hospitals at government rates.
  • Online platform for dialysis management for COVID-1 9 patients.
  • Treating suspected patients without test results.
  • Dashboards were created in hospitals to provide information on crematoriums.
  • Support to Health workers: e.g. in Mumbai, A staff was given Rs 50 lakh as compensation since she was not covered under any insurance scheme.
  • Campaigns: E.g. "My Family My Responsibility" and "No Mask no Entry" campaign.
  • Address Psychological issues of patients: E.g. In Mumbai, iPads with wi-fi were distributed to patients to interact with their family.
Conclusion: A local body led decentralized effort is the most effective way to fight a Pandemic like COVID-19.