19 July,2026 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika Gondhalekar
Sion Hospital’s redevelopment is expected to complete in 2030. File pic
The new plan to establish dormitories for those accompanying patients admitted to Sion Hospital may become a turning point in the city's public health sector.
"For now, in the first two phases, only 650 sq m on either side on each floor of the new ground-plus-14-storey building has been planned as the waiting area. At present, there is no dedicated area for the kin of patients; they sit in the passages or anywhere they can on the premises. This also increases the risk of infection for the patient," said the Dean, Dr Pramod Ingale.
Considering the fact that thousands of patients also travel from other cities and towns for treatment at Mumbai's four major civic hospitals, a dormitory system is now in plan. "We haven't finalised a plan yet on whether each ward and floor will have a dormitory, but this is something that we plan to accommodate in the redeveloped hospital infrastructure. Longer treatments make it impossible for patients and their family members to travel repeatedly from their far away native places. As a result, hundreds end up living on the hospital premises," said Dr Ingale.
He added that once the plans are finalised, the number of family members to be accommodated will also be decided. "To ensure that people responsibly use this facility, a nominal charge may also be applicable," said the Dean.
