Maharashtra government to issue 'white paper' on BMC hospitals, probe their medicine purchases

A highlevel inquiry will be conducted into allegations of misappropriation in purchase of medicines by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMCrun hospitals Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant told the state assembly on Friday reported the PTIA white paper a comprehensive report on services provided by civic hospitals to its patients in Mumbai will also be published Samant said and assured the House the allegations of misappropriation and deficiency in providing services by them will be thoroughly investigated the news agency reportedUday Samant who holds the industries portfolio was speaking in his capacity as incharge of the urban development department which has been entrusted to him for the ongoing Monsoon session of the state legislature Chief Minister Eknath Shinde holds the urban development departmentThe issue about healthcare facilities in Mumbai was raised in the House by Amin Patel Congress according to the PTISpeaking on the matter Ashish Shelar BJP a former minister presented an overview on medical facilities in the financial capitalHe said since Mumbai is a capital city patients from rural areas come to the city for treatment in large numbersThere are various hospitals in Mumbai including those run by the municipal body the state government private and charitable organisations and some for central government employees but there is absolutely no coordination between all these medical establishments Shelar maintainedHence the state government must come up with a white paper on the number of patients coming to Mumbai and whether adequate facilities exist to take care of them Also expenditure incurred on all these healthcare facilities must be evaluated while publishing the white paper demanded the BJP MLA from Bandra West in the metropolisServices provided by hospitals under the jurisdiction of the charity commissioner must be reviewed to verify whether they are following the directives laid down by the state government Shelar saidThe Mumbai civic body on an average spends nearly Rs 4000 crore on health facilities every year which means a sum of Rs 20000 crore was spent over the last five years This amount must have been spent on approximately 45000 patients But unfortunately there is misappropriation in providing health services he allegedMumbaikars do not get the facilities equivalent to the taxes they pay every year There is disparity at all levels Although the BMC has spent Rs 20000 crore in five years on health services people havent received facilities equivalent to this amount said the BJP legislator who is also president of the partys city unitPatients coming to civic hospitals are asked to buy necessary medicines and also get various diagnostic tests like Xray and sonography done from outside This proves there is corruption in their management which must be thoroughly investigated Shelar saidHe said medicines and injections given at private hospitals are exorbitantly priced and patients are made to suffer Hence the government must come up with a rate card for these servicesA large number of cancer patients come to Mumbai for treatment and relatives accompanying them face a lot of problems in terms of accommodation and other facilities Hence the government must construct buildings where relatives of these patients can be temporarily housed he saidManisha Choudhary BJP also raised the issue of poor healthcare facilities in suburbs during this discussionIn response minister Uday Samant accepted the demand for a white paper and also announced that a highlevel inquiry will be conducted into procurement of medicines by BMC hospitalswith PTI inputs