Maharashtra: Housing societies turning club houses into basic Covid-19 care centres now

MUMBAI: MP Gopal Shetty has suggested housing societies set up quarantine centres at their clubs with facilities akin to those at municipal centres or hospitals. Some housing societies and doctors residing in them are already making societies self-reliant in basic care of Covid-19 patients.
A posh housing society in Sewri procured two oxygen concentrators after seeing many people struggle to find beds with oxygen support.A chest physician, who resides there, assured support. An ENT specialist said they have procured two oxygen concentrators for Rs 60,000 each. "The devices will cater to around 170 flats. We plan to procure two more once the first two are installed and we figure out logistics better," the doctor said, adding that they too were thinking of quarantine beds at the society.
Ramesh Prabhu of Maharashtra Societies' Welfare Association, a federation of housing society associations in the state, said there was no government directive though societies were doing their best to ensure norms are in place.
Shetty said societies can start isolation zones in club houses or fire-fighting rooms/refugee areas or in empty flats, if owners permit. Oxygen concentrators are not expensive, compared to what one pays at hospitals, he added.
"I have been reading about nightmares due to non-availability of hospital beds, doctors and sky-rocketing cost of treatment. We cannot blame government for everything. Since no one has to be hospitalised for Covid unless he has a history of health problems, I made suggestions for societies to implement," he said.
"Societies can charge a nominal fee to cover cost, but convenience and security will be better. Arrangements at societies will help affected families give home-cooked food to the patient, personal care and homely feeling, which are effective in recovery, and instantly boost immunity," he said. He said hospitals charge patients for PPE but societies can have gear at a fraction of that cost. Such centres will reduce pressure on infrastructure, he added.
(Inputs by Sumitra Deb Roy)