Considering the rise in cases of such thefts in Mumbai and Pune, the
civic administration had tabled a proposal to appoint 140 security
guards at the municipal hospitals and maternity homes for 2013-14 at an
estimated cost of Rs 1.87-crore, at the general body meeting on Friday.
The civic body approved the proposal and of 140 security guards, 77 will
be women.

Mayor Yatin Wagh said, “Considering the safety of
the newborns and prevent their stealing, it is necessary to have
security in the hospitals. He directed the civic administration to
appoint 140 security guards at 11 municipal hospitals and maternity
homes, through a private firm and by floating an e-tender.”

The
security guards are to be appointed outside neonatal wards,
post-delivery wards and paediatric wards. The entrance gates of all the
hospitals/maternity hospitals are to be kept closed and the entrance
gate is to be monitored strictly, visiting hours be fixed in all the
hospitals for the relatives and friends of the patients and the names,
time and other details are to be noted in the visitor’s register,
security guards should check all the belongings of visitors at the
entrance, women security guards should also be appointed, security
guards must have a walkie talkie, the photos, addresses and other
information about the security guards must be maintained by the
hospitals, newborn babies should not be permitted to be taken outside
the ward before being discharged, only female relatives be permitted for
overnight stay, permission of sister in charge of the ward be taken for
X-ray, CT scan, sonography.