<p>Civic authorities have decided to keep some Covid Care Centres (CCCs) on standby for asymptomatic patients due to the recent surge in cases.</p>.<p>BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad announced the decision at a meeting with civic officials here on Friday.</p>.<p>"The number of CCCs kept on standby has not been finalised," Prasad told DH.</p>.<p>Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Secretary Rajendra Kataria, the official in-charge of 13 CCCs from June to January till the last one in HAL closed down, said the state should learn from last year's experiences and rein in operational costs.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/over-six-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-offing-in-india-harsh-vardhan-961689.html">Over six Covid-19 vaccines in the offing in India: Harsh Vardhan </a></strong></p>.<p>The 10,100-bedded Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on Tumakuru Road was one of the biggest CCCs in the country last year. The first CCC was opened in Haj Bhavan in June. Post shutting down of CCCs, the Palike relocated beds and medical equipment to primary health centres with a shortage of infrastructure.</p>.<p>"Housekeeping staff in these centres was 2.5 times costlier since they catered to Covid patients. Doctors and nurses were hired last year from the private sector for these centres as the cases were high. They cost a lot. Now, government staff should make do. The food cost is Rs 300 per patient per day," Kataria told DH.</p>.<p>At the peak of the pandemic, 5,000 people were being treated at a time across centres. As many as 16,000 people were treated at CCCs last year, which had a combined capacity of 9,000 beds.</p>.<p>"I had a huge team. Each centre had two nodal officers both from the BBMP and from the medical education side. I even deployed 10 to 12 staffers from my then department (agriculture),” Kataria said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-sees-900-plus-new-covid-19-cases-for-first-time-since-january-961680.html">Karnataka sees 900-plus new Covid-19 cases for first time since January </a></strong></p>.<p>“It was costing the exchequer not less than Rs 5,000 per patient to keep them at CCCs, where they stayed for 7 to 10 days,” he added.</p>.<p>The government had to spend Rs 150 per patient for medicines. The pro-rata expenditure per patient for doctors and housekeeping staff was also Rs 200. In all, the one-day expense was Rs 700 at the centres. The government also picked up the tab for building maintenance such as for water, electricity and garbage collection.</p>.<p>“In all, we would have spent a maximum of Rs 1,000 on a patient per day,” Kataria averred.</p>.<p>“We should have adequate preparation before shifting the patients. The (CCC) staff should know their responsibilities. The quality of food and the menu should be well-defined. We should also deploy doctors, paramedics and the medicines on time." </p>
<p>Civic authorities have decided to keep some Covid Care Centres (CCCs) on standby for asymptomatic patients due to the recent surge in cases.</p>.<p>BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad announced the decision at a meeting with civic officials here on Friday.</p>.<p>"The number of CCCs kept on standby has not been finalised," Prasad told DH.</p>.<p>Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department Secretary Rajendra Kataria, the official in-charge of 13 CCCs from June to January till the last one in HAL closed down, said the state should learn from last year's experiences and rein in operational costs.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/over-six-covid-19-vaccines-in-the-offing-in-india-harsh-vardhan-961689.html">Over six Covid-19 vaccines in the offing in India: Harsh Vardhan </a></strong></p>.<p>The 10,100-bedded Bangalore International Exhibition Centre on Tumakuru Road was one of the biggest CCCs in the country last year. The first CCC was opened in Haj Bhavan in June. Post shutting down of CCCs, the Palike relocated beds and medical equipment to primary health centres with a shortage of infrastructure.</p>.<p>"Housekeeping staff in these centres was 2.5 times costlier since they catered to Covid patients. Doctors and nurses were hired last year from the private sector for these centres as the cases were high. They cost a lot. Now, government staff should make do. The food cost is Rs 300 per patient per day," Kataria told DH.</p>.<p>At the peak of the pandemic, 5,000 people were being treated at a time across centres. As many as 16,000 people were treated at CCCs last year, which had a combined capacity of 9,000 beds.</p>.<p>"I had a huge team. Each centre had two nodal officers both from the BBMP and from the medical education side. I even deployed 10 to 12 staffers from my then department (agriculture),” Kataria said.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/karnataka-sees-900-plus-new-covid-19-cases-for-first-time-since-january-961680.html">Karnataka sees 900-plus new Covid-19 cases for first time since January </a></strong></p>.<p>“It was costing the exchequer not less than Rs 5,000 per patient to keep them at CCCs, where they stayed for 7 to 10 days,” he added.</p>.<p>The government had to spend Rs 150 per patient for medicines. The pro-rata expenditure per patient for doctors and housekeeping staff was also Rs 200. In all, the one-day expense was Rs 700 at the centres. The government also picked up the tab for building maintenance such as for water, electricity and garbage collection.</p>.<p>“In all, we would have spent a maximum of Rs 1,000 on a patient per day,” Kataria averred.</p>.<p>“We should have adequate preparation before shifting the patients. The (CCC) staff should know their responsibilities. The quality of food and the menu should be well-defined. We should also deploy doctors, paramedics and the medicines on time." </p>
