Mumbai: In January 2020, just before the Covid outbreak and the ensuing healthcare crisis, Mumbai Central resident Anil Nagre wrote to PM Narendra Modi, urging immediate attention to the state of civic and state-run hospitals in the city. He specifically flagged the deteriorating condition of B Y L Nair Hospital in Mumbai Central, which was already grappling with chronic shortages of beds, ICU facilities and essential medicines.
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Nagre had called for urgent intervention and investment in municipal hospitals to safeguard public health. Five years on, however, he said little has changed. Recalling a recent experience of admitting his father to the hospital, Nagre described the ordeal as disheartening. “We saw how the healthcare system nearly collapsed during Covid,” he said, adding that the authorities seem to have learned little from the crisis.
Following his letter, the PM’s Office reportedly directed the state government to look into the issue. A recent visit to Nair Hospital by FPJ revealed that its MRI facility has remained non-functional since late 2023, severely hampering patient diagnostics and treatment. The lone MRI machine, installed in 2009, was declared end-of-life in early 2023. Despite multiple helium refills to keep it running, the machine eventually failed. A relative of a trauma patient said they were told to go to Sion Hospital for an urgent MRI scan, but due to the patient’s critical condition, they opted for a nearby private diagnostic centre. With no in-house MRI facility, patients are being redirected to other civic hospitals or to select private diagnostic centres under the BMC-approved rates.
This has led to delays, increased travel burdens and, in many cases, out-of-pocket expenses. While a new 3T MRI machine has been sanctioned in the BMC budget, its installation has been delayed due to procurement hurdles, impacting not only patient care but also the clinical training of radiology students. Nair Hospital, one of Mumbai’s largest civic-run tertiary care hospitals, has a capacity of approximately 1,652 beds. It caters to a wide area, drawing patients not just from central and south Mumbai but also from suburbs like Thane, Palghar, Bhiwandi and even rural parts of Maharashtra.
Around 30% of its patients come from outside Mumbai in search of affordable treatment. Affiliated with Topiwala National Medical College, the hospital offers services in general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics, paediatrics and several super-specialties. It also serves as a key teaching institute, providing hands-on training to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students and nurses. On an average, the hospital handles between 2,500 and 3,000 patients daily in its outpatient departments, including specialty clinics such as neurology, cardiology, nephrology and dermatology.
Despite its pivotal role in the public healthcare system, the hospital continues to struggle with outdated infrastructure, and frequent equipment failures. With high patient inflow and limited infrastructure upgrades, wards often exceed their capacity – particularly in general medicine, surgery, orthopaedics and obstetrics. It's not uncommon to see two or more patients being accommodated on stretchers or even the floor. Relatives of patients also raised concerns about basic amenities. “Water is available only on the ground floor and the seventh floor.
If a patient is admitted on any other floor, relatives have to climb up or down several floors to fetch water,” caregiver Wasim Ansari said. He also pointed out that the fans inside a few lifts are often non-functional. Lighting is another concern. “Some narrow stretches inside the building are dimly lit or completely dark at night. It feels unsafe,” said Sumit Patil, who was attending to a relative. However, hospital dean Dr Shailesh Mohite said that instances of patients sharing beds or being accommodated on the floor are not frequent.
“This happens only when there is a sudden rush,” he explained. A doctor attending to a patient added, “We can’t send patients back. If needed, we accommodate them somehow.” Regarding the MRI issue, Dr Mohite said that the BMC’s central purchase department is responsible for procuring equipment and hence it would be in a better position to inform when the new MRI machine will be installed. “We have already raised the demand,” he added.
