Thursday, Apr 25, 2024 | Last Update : 02:44 PM IST
BMC to outsource ICUs in 9 hospital
The cost of medical services in ICU units to remain the same: civic officials
Mumbai: In a major decision, which is likely to pave the way for large-scale privatisation of municipal health services, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to hand over the running of Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in nine suburban municipal hospitals to private organisations due to acute shortage of doctors,.
In a first, the contract of running ICU units in nine suburban municipal hospitals has been allotted to private organisations, which will provide doctors and other experts to operate these units. The BMC will spend nearly `25 crore for outsourcing these doctors for a period of two years. For every bed in the ICU, the civic body will pay Rs 1,700-2,000 to these organisations.
However, civic officials made it clear that the cost of medical services in ICU units will remain same. “In ICUs of municipal hospitals, Rs 200 is charged per bed per day. The rates will remain the same though private organisations will run these units,” said a senior civic official.
Though there are ICU units in the suburban municipal hospitals, there are not many doctors available there. Taking cognisance of inconvenience caused to patients due to shortage of doctors, the BMC has decided to hire doctors from private hospitals, he added. They will run Medical Intensive Care Units (MICU), Trauma Intensive Care Units (TICU), Surgical Intensive Care units (SICU) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in these hospitals.
Medical experts have termed the decision as the beginning of privatisation of municipal health services. “The fact that the BMC has asked private organisations to run the ICUs in municipal hospitals clearly reflects on its intentions to privatise its health services. While these services are available for nominal charges, the BMC must ensure that the scheme is not used by these doctors for the benefit of their own practice,” said Dr Dilip Patil, who runs a privately run clinic in Wadala.
Private agency & Municipal hosp
Jeevan Jyot Charitable Trust:
Siddharth Hospital, Goregaon (12 beds)
Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivali (20)
Bhagwati Hospital, Borivali (10)
Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital, Govandi (20)
Mahatma Phule Hospital, Vikhroli (10)
MT Agrawal Hospital, Mulund (25).
Critical Care Association:
Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar (21)
Sant Muktabai Hospital, Ghatkopar (10).
