India, Sept. 4 -- Amid a shortage of critical-care equipment at Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)-run hospitals, seriously ill newborns are being referred to Sassoon General Hospital (SGH), which itself faces heavy pressure on its intensive care facilities. Against this backdrop, the civic standing committee has cleared a proposal to purchase 10 ventilators and 10 CPAP machines for neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) at three civic hospitals, at a cost of Rs.3.98 crore.

The equipment will be installed at Kamala Nehru Hospital, Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and Chandumama Sonawane Maternity Home in the city.

The proposal, moved by municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, was approved by the standing committee. Standing committee chairman Shrin...