Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) Correspondent
Several organisations have come together to form the “Aspatal Bachao, Nijikaran Hatao” (“Save Hospitals, Stop Privatization”) Action Committee to oppose privatisation of government hospitals in Mumbai. Privatisation of hospitals will deprive many Mumbaikars from public healthcare.
The following are the legitimate demands raised by the Action Committee:
- Shatabdi and Lallubhai Compound Hospitals, as well as any other government hospital in Mumbai, should be immediately and completely excluded from any process of privatization such as Public Private Partnership (PPP).
- NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) should be made operational in all maternity hospitals in M-East Division within the next 30 days. Further, the recruitment process should be completed within 3 months by publishing advertisements for the recruitment of vacant posts. The service of Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Hospital should be started immediately.
- Free diagnostic laboratory services should be introduced in all government hospitals within 30 days.
- Advertisements for vacant posts in all hospitals and health centers should be published within 30 days and recruitment should be completed within 3 months.
- By filling the vacant posts in municipal dispensaries, 38 new dispensaries should be opened in the next 3 months at the rate of one dispensary for every 15,000 population as per NBC/UDPFI standards.
- Every month, a public meeting should be held in the presence of the Deputy Commissioners of MOH, DMC (Public Health), and AMC at the ward office to get firsthand understanding of people’s grievances related to municipal health facilities.