BMC invites applications to run hospitals in Borivali, Mankhurd on PPP model

After the announcement of its budget 202526 the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC has invited applications to run the civic Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali and a new hospital located at Lallubhai Compound in Mankhurd under Public Private Partnership PPP for 30 yearsAfter this the civic body is planning to run a few other hospitals under the same modelThe BMC spent around Rs 500 crore on the redevelopment of 480 beds at Bhagwati Hospital Of these 148 beds will be reserved for the patients recommended by BMCThe hospital at Lallubhai Compound will have 410 beds of which 150 will be reserved for BMCrecommended patientsldquoThese patients will get treatment as per BMCs hospital rates On the other beds also patients can get treatment under Ayushman Bharat Mahatma Phule Arogya Yojana and other schemes meant for poor patients a civic official said We have decided that the rate of the various multispeciality services at the hospitals Also an officer onduty who is a senior official of the BMC will monitor the daily operations of the hospitalsrdquo the official addedIn the civic budget speech of the 202526 which was presented in February Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani announced the PPP model The civic body is coming up with the PPP Policy to make health services more accessible and affordable to citizens The lands reserved under DP Development Plan 2034 hospitals maternity homes and dispensaries will be included under this policy This will minimise outofpocket expenditure of patients and the recurring expenditure of BMC Gagrani had mentioned in the budgetThe BMC invited applications to run the Bhagwati Hospital and the Lallubhai Compound Hospital on PPP modelMilind Mhaske founder director of Praja Foundation said Bhagwati Hospital has been developed with taxpayers funds If the funds are not used fully for the taxpayer then what is the use of this hospital All the patients who are admitted in the hospital should get treatment as per the BMC ratesNazib Atiqu a resident of Mankhurd said Mankhurd Govandi and Deonar are slum areas Residents of these areas need good and affordable treatment Actually the BMC should run this hospital fully However 150 beds are too less Also who will decide which patients will get treatment as per the BMC rate This can create influence peddling if someone has an influence then that person can get treatment under BMC rate The civic body give clarity on this firstAnother resident Faiyaz Alam Sheikh said While 150 beds will be under the BMCs supervision we are hopeful that the remaining beds under nonBMC management will operate with the same commitment to quality care Transparency accountability and efficient healthcare delivery must remain the guiding principles for all stakeholders This area is surrounded by the slums As a healthcare activist and convenor of the Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum I urge a responsible oversight to ensure that every patient regardless of the managing authority receives the care they rightfully deserve Collaborative efforts can pave the way for a healthier and stronger community