Western suburbs to get 670 more hospital beds …….Sukhada Tatke
Mumbai: In a major boost for public healthcare system in the western suburbs, the BMC is planning to add 670 beds in existing and new hospitals by March next year.
“Our priority this year will be the health of mothers and their children, with a specialised hospital coming up in Magothane (Borivli),’’ an officer said. Having identified a building in Magothane, the civic body will set up a new specialised women and children’s hospital, which will be used as a prototype for future medical facilities. The health department has also started a survey in the city with a focus on low-income groups in order to extend the motherchild healthcare system.
In addition, Shatabdi Hospital in Kandivli is undergoing a total revamp while a new hospital will be inaugurated shortly in Marol on a public private partnership (PPP) basis. “Our focus this year will be on the western suburbs. The population in the suburbs has increased by leaps and bounds with slums mushrooming all over,’’ said additional municipal commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar.
According to the plan, Shatabdi Hospital will have 300 new beds after the renovation is complete.
The maternity care centre, which will be the 27th in the city, will have 15 beds for the maternity ward, 15 for the gynaecology department and 40 for the paediatric ward. Of these, 10 beds will be reserved for neo-natal care. “The project will cost Rs 10 crore. We have already acquired a building and the infrastructure is ready,’’ said Mhaiskar.
“The hospital coming up in Marol on PPP basis will have 300 beds for the BMC. To ensure that the poor do not face any hardships in the hospital, the BMC will appoint an officer on special duty (OSD) for 24 hours,’’ an official said, adding that if the plan succeeds, the BMC is planning to extend the model in the city. Dr Vivek Desai of HOSMAC, a hospital consultancy group, said that it is a good idea to rope in private players in the public healthcare system.
* Shatabdi hospital (Kandivli): 300 beds
* Marol hosp: 300 beds
* New hospital in Borivli will have 15 beds for the maternity ward, 15 for the gynaecology department and 40 for the paediatric ward