Mumbai: Amid growing public opposition, the Public Health Department of the M/East Ward (Chembur) has assured that it will convene a meeting with public representatives before proceeding with the proposed privatisation of services in civic-run hospitals. The assurance comes after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) faced strong resistance from local residents, forcing it to reconsider its plans.
Earlier this week, more than 200 citizens staged a protest march from Mankhurd to Govandi, opposing the privatisation of services at Lallubhai Compound Multispeciality Hospital in Mankhurd.
"Amid growing concerns over the privatisation of civic-run hospitals, a joint meeting will be held within the next 8 to 10 days with senior health officials and members of the 'Aaspatal Bachao Nijikaran Hatao Kruti Samiti' (Save Hospitals, Remove Privatisation Action Committee)," said Dr. Pradeep Kasale, Medical Health Officer of BMC’s M/East Ward. The meeting aims to address the committee’s objections and discuss the way forward.
In March, the BMC had floated tenders for two public-private partnership (PPP) projects. These include Bhagwati Hospital, a 50-year-old facility in Borivli, and Lallubhai Compound Hospital in Mankhurd, built to serve thousands of project-affected families. The hospital has not yet started functioning.
The civic body operates over 25 hospitals with capacities ranging from 100 to 2,000 beds.
Advocate Faiyaz Shaikh, a civic activist, said the committee will submit its objections and suggestions during the meeting, firmly opposing any form of privatisation. “We have already demanded that the tenders be scrapped and that the BMC focus on improving hospital facilities, including ICUs and NICUs in maternity homes, within a month,” he said.
A local resident expressed concern over the impact privatisation could have on the area’s low-income population. “Patients from Govandi, Deonar, Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, Cheetah Camp, and parts of Chembur rely heavily on civic-run hospitals. They cannot afford private healthcare. If services are privatised, many will be forced to travel to Sion Hospital, which is already overcrowded,” the resident said.
According to the civic administration, privatisation is aimed at ensuring better utilisation of infrastructure, especially in hospitals that are currently understaffed. However, under the proposed model, the private partner will be allowed to reserve a certain number of beds for profit-making purposes, raising concerns about accessibility for economically weaker patients.
