Mumbai News: Bhabha Hospital’s New Tower Fails To Deliver As Blood Bank, MRI & Other Critical Services Remain Non-Functional

Mumbai: For the relatives of Ranu Mondal, what should have been a moment of joy quickly turned into a harrowing ordeal. After her delivery at Khurshitji Beharamji Bhabha Municipal General Hospital (K. B. Bhabha Hospital), Bandra (West), the family was forced to scramble for blood in the middle of the night because the hospital’s own blood bank had shut. Like many others before them, they had to rush outside to arrange blood—a situation patients have been facing for the last two to three years.

Staff Shortages Hit Services

Despite being a major civic-run hospital serving thousands every day, the blood bank here closes in the evening due to staff shortages. This is in stark violation of standard medical protocols, which mandate round-the-clock blood bank services to ensure uninterrupted emergency care.

The issue had even drawn the attention of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) in 2023, which summoned the then BMC commissioner over complaints that the blood bank stopped functioning after 9 pm. Yet, two years later, little seems to have changed.

New Tower, Old Problems

In February 2025, the hospital added a gleaming 11-storey new building as part of an expansion project. The facility was meant to transform healthcare for residents of Bandra and surrounding suburbs, with provisions for advanced specialties such as cardiology, trauma care, and modern diagnostic facilities. But for patients, the reality is far removed from the promise.

“Many of the services listed on paper have yet to begin,” admitted Sohaib Khan, a member of the hospital’s Dakshta Committee. “The gynecology department is especially hit. Surgeries and deliveries at night are often delayed because the blood bank shuts early. The new building has a full cardiology ward, but there are no doctors or staff appointed to run it.”

Other critical services such as MRI and CT scan units also remain non-functional. This forces patients to either bear the burden of costly private healthcare or be shifted to other civic hospitals.

Amarjeet Singh, a Bhandup resident, narrated his ordeal after his relative was admitted to Bhabha Hospital following an accident on the Western Express Highway. “They told us there was no MRI here, so we had to take him to KEM Hospital,” he said. The hospital administration acknowledged that one or two patients who require MRI scans are routinely referred to other civic-run facilities.

According to officials, the hospital’s redevelopment was planned in two stages. Phase I, which included the construction of the new tower, has been completed. But Phase II, involving the renovation of the old building and upgrading of key facilities like the trauma unit, delivery ward, X-ray department, and sterile supply sections, has only just begun.

“The renovation work of the first floor in the old building has started, and services will gradually shift to the new building,” said a senior hospital official.

However, the delay has left several wards cramped and some departments operating in makeshift arrangements. Another official admitted, “The entire hospital is running on temporary setups, including staff positions.”

One of the biggest reasons behind the hospital’s dysfunctional or partially functional services is its staff shortage. Officials estimate that the hospital is currently functioning with just 60–65 percent of the required manpower.

An RTI query revealed that 13 laboratory technicians at the hospital were working without proper registration under the Maharashtra Paramedical Council. While four have applied for registration, nine cases are still pending, raising compliance and accountability concerns.

Overcrowding and Infrastructure Pressure

Overcrowding remains another major challenge. The hospital records 2,000–2,500 OPD visits daily, a number that has occasionally crossed 2,800 during the monsoon due to seasonal illnesses. With only 336 out of 436 beds operational, and renovation work still underway, the pressure on infrastructure is immense. After the completion of renovation of the old building, the total number of beds will be 497.

The hospital’s ICU has 11 beds, while 16 trauma unit beds are being used for non-critical patients because of space shortages. Compounding the issue, patients from nearby V. N. Desai Hospital in Santacruz—where renovation work is ongoing—are being diverted to Bhabha for sonography and other procedures.

“During the monsoon, we had to scale down critical care services because of the heavy influx of patients,” an official said.

While the new tower is equipped with modern amenities, including four functional lifts and clean visitor washrooms, the old building remains poorly maintained. Of the four lifts, only one works, and relatives of patients often struggle to move between the two buildings as services are split across them. “People often get confused about where to go—whether the service is in the old building or the new one,” said a staff nurse.

Yet, one area where the hospital has received praise is in its cleanliness and sanitation, with both old and new wings being maintained relatively well.

Government & Civic Efforts

An official from the hospital said the administration has taken steps to address some of these issues. “We have received two technicians from V. N. Desai Hospital, Santacruz, who will be deputed to the blood bank after training. The tender for CT Scan and MRI services under the Civic Collaboration model has already been floated, and these facilities will be available soon,” he said.

However, for patients and activists, these assurances ring hollow until concrete results are seen. “The new building looks impressive from the outside, but inside, patients still don’t get the services they were promised,” said Nisha Mohite, a Bandra West resident.

Crucial Healthcare Hub

K. B. Bhabha Hospital is a crucial healthcare provider for Bandra East and West, including dense slum pockets like Behrampada, Nirmal Nagar, Bharat Nagar, and Kherwadi. Patients also come from Santacruz, Mahim, Kurla, and even the eastern suburbs. Migrant workers, daily wage earners, and residents of informal settlements rely heavily on the facility for affordable care.

The hospital also caters to emergency cases from the Western Express Highway, Bandra-Worli Sea Link, and Bandra railway station. With such a vast catchment area, delays in operationalising services directly impact thousands of lives.

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Despite heavy investments on the new building and another for Phase II—the hospital continues to struggle with shortages, incomplete facilities, and bureaucratic delays. For many patients, the promise of advanced healthcare remains unfulfilled.