In a major move towards decentralising affordable healthcare in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to operationalise a new clinic and diagnostic-cum-dialysis unit in Borivali West using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The facility, housed in a two-storey structure in Punjabi Galli, was originally erected prior to the COVID-19 pandemic for medical usage but was briefly repurposed as a quarantine centre for asymptomatic individuals during the outbreak. It is now ready to fulfil its initial function, which was to relieve the strain on overcrowded tertiary hospitals like KEM, Sion, and Nair and deliver cutting-edge medical services closer to residents.
According to a senior BMC official, the centre is expected to reduce the need for long-distance travel and extensive waiting periods by offering general and specialised medical services locally and at civic-approved rates. A tender has already been floated for a private partner to run the facility on a 30-year PPP basis. Once operational, the centre will provide general outpatient consultations at a nominal fee of Rs 10, while specialty and super-specialty consultations will be priced at Rs 293 and Rs 345 respectively. The clinic will also house a wide range of diagnostic services including X-rays, ECGs, sonography, CT scans, MRI, mammography, and pulmonary function tests, all delivered at rates approved by the BMC. Medical consultations will span various disciplines such as gynaecology, cardiology, internal medicine, and urology, while testing costs for hundreds of procedures have been pre-fixed to maintain affordability.
The facility has been thoughtfully designed to house all services under one roof. The ground floor will feature registration counters, general and specialty OPDs, a radiology unit, and a generic pharmacy. The first floor will accommodate super-specialty outpatient departments along with physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and laboratories for advanced pathology, microbiology, and endocrinology. Meanwhile, the second floor will be dedicated to dialysis services and dental care. The BMC has laid out a phased rollout plan for the facility: outpatient services are to commence within four months of tender finalisation, followed by pathology and radiology within six months, and the launch of CT and MRI services within nine months.
The local authority will designate a Special Duty Officer to supervise the facility in order to guarantee efficient operations and fair access. BMC staff and ration card holders residing in Mumbai would be eligible for concessional prices. The centre is anticipated to improve healthcare accessibility for the local populace while drastically reducing patient traffic at larger hospitals by providing a variety of medical services under one roof at reasonable costs. The BMC’s larger commitment to bolstering public health infrastructure through community-focused, decentralised, and sustainable healthcare delivery is reflected in this effort.
Source: Hindustan Times
