India, Aug. 11 -- The BMC's plan to double the capacity of the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) at its four major civic hospitals has stalled, not for want of space or beds but due to a critical shortage of nurses.

A decision to double the NICU capacity was taken at a special meeting chaired by Harish Bandirge, chairperson of the civic health committee, on June 11. The meeting was attended by the deans of all four major civic hospitals. .

"Only specialised, trained nursing staff can handle the care of newborn babies in the NICU. Regular nurses cannot be assigned these duties," Bandirge told HT. "So, now we have sent a proposal to the BMC commissioner to hire more nursing staff for this purpose. NICU capacity can be expanded only aft...