BMC Hospitals to seek tips from private hospitals to improve healthcare services

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is taking significant steps to address the concerns surrounding healthcare services and infrastructure within its municipal hospitals. In response to recurring complaints about limited amenities and perceived rudeness among medical staff in civic-run hospitals, the BMC has embarked on an initiative for change.

High-ranking authorities from municipal hospitals have been directed to conduct visits to private healthcare institutions, aiming to gain insights into their operational practices with the ultimate goal of enhancing the quality of services provided in municipal healthcare establishments. 

The decision to adopt this approach follows surprise inspections of hospitals by Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Sudhakar Shinde, who identified several areas requiring improvement. A senior health official expressed optimism about the potential impact of this initiative, believing that it could lead to positive changes in the quality of services offered within BMC-run facilities. This proactive move comes in response to numerous complaints from patients and their families, who have raised issues related to hospital cleanliness, the conduct of medical personnel, and the state of infrastructure.

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As per a report in Free Press Journal, After assuming charge, Dr Shinde has stressed upon the need to address the shortcomings of hospital administrations. During his surprise inspection, he raised several crucial issues such as uncleanliness, bad infrastructure and shortage of medicines. “We all have been given instructions to visit private hospitals to understand their working style which will benefit patients coming to the BMC hospitals. Also, there is no need to construct new hospitals as it will involve too much additional work such as finding land, staff and machines, which will be time-consuming,” said an official.

Importantly, BMC has underscored that there is currently no immediate need for the construction of new hospitals, as they believe ample room for improvement exists within their existing infrastructure.

In a recent statement, the BMC outlined its primary goal of enhancing patient well-being and reshaping public perceptions of BMC hospitals. This decision was prompted by consistent complaints from patients and their families concerning issues such as unclean hospital conditions, discourteous behaviour by medical staff, and infrastructure concerns. BMC officials hope that by gaining insights from private hospitals and addressing these issues, they can ultimately provide improved healthcare services for patients relying on BMC facilities. The emphasis remains on enhancing the existing infrastructure to meet the healthcare needs of the city's residents effectively.

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