September 17, 2025: Mumbai, India’s financial capital, is home to some of the country’s largest public hospitals, institutions that serve as lifelines for millions. Yet, these facilities are struggling with overcrowding, staff shortages, outdated infrastructure, and neglect, leaving patients and families battling long waits, unsafe conditions, and financial burdens.
At J.J. Hospital, Maharashtra’s largest with 1,352 beds, Noor Fatima from Kolhapur waited four hours for a doctor who never arrived—reflecting chronic delays. Handling up to 5,000 daily OPD cases, the hospital faces staff vacancies, outdated equipment, and allegations of collusion with private labs. A new 1,200-bed facility launched in 2019 remains incomplete, with costs crossing Rs 778 crore.
Similar challenges echo across other civic hospitals. At Rajawadi Hospital, overcrowding has led to violence against staff, while V.N. Desai Hospital struggles with weak security—patients report thefts and unauthorized intrusions. Bhabha Hospital in Kurla has faced equipment breakdowns and medicine shortages, while ongoing renovations add to patient distress.
Nair Hospital, serving 3,000 patients daily, has seen its MRI facility shut since 2023, forcing patients into long waits. At Shatabdi Hospital, Kandivali, poor professionalism and overcrowding continue to plague operations. Meanwhile, Cooper Hospital struggles with shortages of staff, hygiene lapses, and backlogs in essential services.
KEM Hospital in Parel, with 2,250 beds, often accommodates two patients per bed. Collapsing infrastructure, non-functional diagnostic machines, and staff protests underscore its crisis. Nursing students also live in overcrowded, unhygienic hostels.
Despite ongoing expansion projects and promises of modernisation, delays and inefficiencies persist. From JJ to KEM, the picture is one of collapsing infrastructure, overworked staff, and patients left in limbo—an urgent reminder of the need for systemic reforms to safeguard Mumbai’s healthcare backbone.
Source: The Free Press Journal
