Major refurbishing for civic dispensaries…..BANSI MEHTA
THE civic- run dispensaries will undergo a major refurbishing process, as they will now be graded into four categories namely A, B, C & D. A defines the most effective and well- equipped center while D implying that the centre needs complete makeover.
In order to decrease overcrowding of public hospitals with minor ailments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation ( BMC) will spruce up its primary health care facilities like dispensaries and health posts.
BMC, the largest Municipal Corporation is India is the major provider of public health- care service for population of about 1.6 million people in the city.
Currently, the civic administration has divided the health care system into three major categories. Primary health care consists of healthposts, maternity homes etc, while Secondary health care consists of peripheral hospitals and Tertiary health care refers to medical colleges, speciality medical centres, etc.
There are 182 Health Posts, 163 Dispensaries, 26 Maternity homes, 23 Post- mortem centres, 16 Peripheral hospitals, 4 medical colleges and 5 Specialists centres.
After a recent workshop organized by the civic administration, which roped in 25 different national, international and city- based NGO’s to discuss about the health care system in the city, officials said the primary health care facility was weak and was a common worry amongst all organizations.
” For years it has been observed that the primary health care sector has been neglected. We will now chalk a plan to make them efficient in delivering adequate health care facilities to the people,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, Additional Municipal Commissioner. She also said that all the OPD’s of the civic- run hospitals like KEM, Sion etc have heavy influx of patients with minor ailments.
” About 25 per cent of people who visit the OPD in civic run hospitals are patients with minor fever and cough- cold problems,” said Mhaiskar.
She also said that the executive health officer and deputy health officer will be analyzing and grading these dispensaries and accordingly a plan of action will be followed.
” We have about 50 dispensaries in category A, while there are many in category B and C which require minor or major repairs and in category D there are about Six- odd dispensaries, which need absolute demolition and reconstruction activity,” added Mhaiskar.
Officials also maintained that category D did not necessarily mean poor or no infrastructure. It also pertains to those dispensaries, which are located in posh areas, and hence, they are less utilized.
BMC is working on a well- grounded public health care plan for the city before next year’s budget is out.
With public health care becoming a perturbing issue in the island city, BMC will seek diverse suggestions from the major private entities in the health care system.
A series of workshops had kickstarted from October 30 and in order to aid BMC to spruce up its existing three- tier health care system. The corporation will also have similar workshop with doctors of the hospitals, union and civic corporators.
According to BMC officials, after all the workshops are over, a perspective plan will be drafted based on the pressing issues addressed by people, till December.
Apart from organizing the workshop to aid the civic administration to prepare levelheaded public health care plan; the civic administration will also impart training to its clinical staff in order to ensure higher delivery of health care facility. BMC will also give a uniform look to all these dispensaries and it will be carried through Corporate Social Responsibility ( CSR). Last month the BMC had decided to have private practitioners and specialists surgeons to also practice in civic- run dispensaries.
* The executive health officer and deputy health officer will be analysing and grading these dispensaries and accordingly a plan of action will be followed.