The redevelopment of civic hospitals, the construction of super-specialty facilities, and the opening of new HBT clinics—all of which are intended to increase access to healthcare—were all part of the civic budget that was announced on Tuesday.
On Tuesday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) presented the Rs 7,380.44 crore allotted for public health in the FY2025-26 budget. The allocation of Rs 7,380.44 crore represents a 13.95% increase over the Rs 6,350.53 crore from the previous year. A total of Rs 2,172.73 crore has been allocated for capital expenditures and Rs 5,207.70 crore for revenue expenditures.
The infrastructure and medical facilities of several civic hospitals are presently being significantly upgraded as part of their ongoing development. In addition, 3,515 more beds will be added as a result of the renovation, bringing the total to 49,893 beds. This exceeds the 2024 requirement outlined in the National Health Policy of 2017.
Additionally, Rs 306.29 crore has been allocated for the construction of super-specialty institutions in the suburbs in fields like gastroenterology, nephrology, and oncology. In addition, there will be three physiotherapy centres and 25 new Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray (HBT) Aapla Dawakhana centres added to the 250 HBT clinics that now exist.
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine will be administered to girls between the ages of 9 and 14 as part of a non-communicable disease prevention program to prevent cervical cancer. To control oral, breast, and cervical cancer, a ward-by-ward comprehensive cancer care model will also be used. The program was started last year, and with the help of the business sector, its reach will be increased.
The civic organisation intends to screen 3 million people this year under the Arogya Kutumbam program, with a special emphasis on senior persons.
Following last year’s Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination campaign to combat tuberculosis throughout the city, the BMC has launched some initiatives to diagnose and treat the disease.
In addition to dedicated on-call counselling and support desks for pregnant women, 33 health clinics will be established for maternity and child care to address the emotional and physical health issues of teenage children living in slum regions. Children will undergo cochlear implant surgery at the Seth AJB municipal ENT hospital in Fort.
House-to-house examinations for everyone under the Arogya Seva Aaplya Dari are another program that is featured in the budget.
Source: Hindustan Times