Activists demand action as neglected medical equipment sparks outrage in Thane

THANE: Activists and political leaders have criticised the Thane municipal administration for neglecting brand-new medical equipment purchased during the pandemic, including beds, ventilators, and other gadgets, which now lie unused at the defunct parking plaza-turned-Covid care hospital adjoining Viviana Mall in Thane.
A team of activists, led by MNS Thane-Palghar leader Avinash Jadhav, stormed into the facility at Laxmi Nagar on Monday afternoon. They highlighted how the equipment, bought at ‘inflated rates’ and valued at several crores, has been gathering dust for the last few years. Jadhav also pointed out that many healthcare facilities in the region are struggling to treat patients due to a lack of such equipment.
"The administration may have spent a massive amount on purchasing this equipment at inflated costs. There is no audit till now. We are requesting that at a time when several facilities in the city and district are forced to turn away patients due to a lack of beds and facilities, why is the corporation letting this equipment rot here? It is in the best interests that this equipment is either absorbed at the civic facilities or immediately dispatched to govt facilities across the district where they are needed, else we will protest," said Jadhav.
A response from the health department of the Thane municipal administration was awaited despite repeated attempts.