Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde conducts surprise check at BMC hospital in Jogeshwari, flags need for better patient facilities

The Mayor subsequently inspected the Accident Department, Intensive Care Unit and the paediatric, female medical and male medical departments on the ninth and tenth floors. Pic/ Mayor`s Office

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde conducted a surprise inspection of the Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Municipal Hospital in Jogeshwari East on Wednesday, August 19, and reviewed the medical facilities and services available to patients.

During the inspection, Tawde issued several directions to the hospital administration, including extending the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana registration counter to 24 hours.

Tawde first visited the MJPJAY registration counter on the ground floor and directed the administration to keep it operational round the clock instead of limiting its working hours to 8 am to 4 pm.

She also instructed officials not to insist on additional documents from patients holding Ayushman cards.

Patient care, food quality and medicines

The Mumbai Mayor subsequently inspected the Accident Department, Intensive Care Unit and the paediatric, female medical and male medical departments on the ninth and tenth floors.

She interacted with patients and sought feedback on the quality of medical services provided by doctors and nurses, availability of medicines, food quality and cleanliness.

Tawde also personally checked the food served to patients and directed the administration to improve its quality immediately.

She instructed hospital officials to ensure cleanliness across all departments, interact with patients in a courteous and caring manner and make all prescribed medicines available on time.

The Mayor also asked the administration to provide details of the hospital's requirements regarding manpower, healthcare equipment and other facilities.

Full-time staff sought for neurosurgery department

Tawde also visited the DSA Cathlab on the second floor and reviewed the advanced equipment and facilities in the neurosurgery department.

She told residents that she would write to the Municipal Corporation administration and follow up on the appointment of full-time doctors and medical staff for the department.

Contract workers raise concerns

Contractual employees at the hospital submitted a memorandum to Tawde outlining their various demands and grievances.

The Mayor assured them that a joint meeting would be held with the Municipal Corporation administration to address the issues faced by contractual employees and doctors.

Dean Dr Chhaya Shinde, Medical Superintendent Dr Niranjan Kshirsagar, along with medical officers, employees and paramedical staff, were present during the inspection.