Treatment at civic hospitals in Mumbai likely to go up by 25%
The rates will be applicable at all 16 civic hospitals in the city
Even though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed at maintaining its hospitals across Mumbai, a proposal demanding a 25% price hike for availing medical services at civic-run medical facilities was partially cleared by the group leaders on Tuesday. The hike is likely to be implemented from April.
However, those coming to Mumbai for treatment will have to pay more. While the rate hiked for Mumbaiites is 25%, outsiders will have to pay 35% over the existing charges. The rates will be applicable at all 16 civic hospitals in the city.
The proposal was opposed by the Congress. Ravi Raja, Congress councillor and Leader of Opposition in the BMC, said the civic body is making its services unaffordable for the poor.
He added, “People who avail medical facilities for the ill-maintained hospitals are already poor. While the civic body provides free education to the poor, it is charging the same students exorbitantly for using its hospitals. How will they pay such high rates?”
Justifying the hike, a senior civic official from the health department said, “The rates have been hiked to bring down the ever-rising cost of running civic hospitals.”
Stating that the proposal is partly cleared, Yashwant Jadhav, Shiv Sena councillor and Leader of the House, said there are several aspects that are yet to be discussed in the next meeting.