Based on report received from Sanjana, an activist of Jan Hakk Sangharsh Samiti, a leading constituent of “Aspatal Bachao, Nijikaran Hatao” Kriti Samiti and Press Release of the Samiti
On 11 August 2025, the “Aspatal Bachao, Nijikaran Hatao” Kriti Samiti in Mumbai organised a rally from Cheetah Camp to Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Home and staged a protest and symbolic hunger strike at Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Home, opposing the privatisation of government hospitals through the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. The location of the protest is significant as the Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Home, built over three years ago, remains closed despite the acute shortage of healthcare facilities in the area.
Over 200 residents from Cheetah Camp and Maharashtra Nagar joined the rally, with 20 people sitting on a hunger strike to press for their demands. The local police tried to dissuade the people gathered, but those sitting on hunger strike refused to relent till the Municipal Health Officer (MOH) personally visited the hunger strike site, accepted the memorandum from the protesters, and promised to forward the demands to higher authorities. The MOH requested an end to the fast and assured a response within 8–10 days. The Kriti Samiti announced that if demands are not met, intensified action will follow across the city.
Today’s protest raised several issues specific to the M Ward of Mumbai. The state of public healthcare in the M-East Ward is alarming. Shortages of doctors, nurses, and basic facilities force patients from small maternity homes in places like Shivaji Nagar and Deonar to be referred to distant hospitals, often resulting in delays and even deaths of expecting mothers and patients, and financial distress. This has led to several tragic incidents, such as pregnant women being denied care due to absent doctors or lack of Aadhaar card, and a young student’s death due to a non-operational ICU. The Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Home remains closed because no private contractor has been finalised, although the service could be run by the government.
This highlights the systemic and planned destruction of public sector healthcare facility in the ward.
This agitation in the M Ward is part of the city-wide campaign for strengthening the public sector healthcare system and for opposing moves towards hospital privatisation. The government is moving to privatise six major hospitals in Mumbai, including the hospital in Shatabdi and Lallubhai Compound, and outsource diagnostic and support services across the city. The Kriti Samiti demands the immediate opening and staffing of Maharashtra Nagar Maternity Home; urgent recruitment in all vacant posts across all hospitals and health centres and restoration of paediatric ICUs; cancellation of PPP plans for all BMC (municipal) hospitals; recruitment to sanctioned posts as per established standards within 30 days; a clear public declaration that no patient will be denied treatment for lack of Aadhaar or documents; a comprehensive plan to guarantee health as a right; and weekly public meetings between the Health Officer and the public to resolve grievances.
The Kriti Samiti is mobilizing across Mumbai city, and several local campaigns are being organized.
Similar anti-people actions against public health services are being undertaken by the Central Government and various state governments. All working people should unite in defense of their right to healthcare and resist the privatisation of hospitals built with public money.
