The civic chief’s preference for city’s COVID-19 patients being treated over those from neighbouring cities in private hospitals has increased difficulties for serious patients from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The cities in MMR are interdependent for infrastructure. With health services being below par in the rest of MMR, citizens come to Mumbai hospitals.

Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, in a message to private hospitals in early September, had asked them to prioritise city patients and refer those from MMR to jumbo facilities as cases started rising. Dr. Deepak Baid, president, Association of Medical Consultants, confirmed the move.