In a significant push to improve healthcare services, the public health department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has unveiled a set of upgrades for all civic-run hospitals in Mumbai, targeted for completion by the end of the year. The measures aim to enhance patient experience, improve hygiene standards, and streamline emergency response systems.
A key component of the plan is the construction of dedicated toilet facilities for relatives of admitted patients. This step is intended to ensure better hygiene and dignity for caregivers who often spend extended hours in hospitals. The project will cover all 16 peripheral hospitals and four major hospitals. “While we are trying to get CSR funds for the construction of all toilets, in case some are left, we will build them from our funds. Sharing toilets with patients puts the family members at high risk of infection and also endangers those undergoing treatment,” said Ughade. The first such facility is currently being built at Shatabdi Hospital, with plumbing work expected to begin shortly. These amenities, including bathing spaces, are being developed in the basement.
The BMC is also working on a centralised digital dashboard to display real-time bed availability across maternity homes, peripheral, and major hospitals. “At present, patients and hospital administration have to call each hospital and ask if a bed is available, especially in cases of ICU and NICU. With this dashboard, anyone will be able to check bed availability and can move the patients immediately without wasting time. As all the peripheral hospitals are now being converted in multi-speciality hospitals, having this dashboard will help people to know if a bed is available in the nearest hospital from their location, especially in the case of emergencies,” said Ughade.
Additionally, the civic body plans to expand pipeline gas infrastructure to peripheral hospitals. “While all four major hospitals already run on pipeline gas, the peripheral hospitals are under construction. We are planning a pipeline gas facility at each of them so that during the construction process, only the lines can be put in the connection can be made,” said Ughade.
Source: Mid-day
