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Maharashtra

Mumbai News: BMC Pushes Ahead With ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’, Outsourcing Dialysis, MRI, CT Scan & Blood Bank Services

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Mumbai: Despite strong opposition from residents and health activists, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is pressing ahead with the privatisation of key hospital services. In its latest move, the civic body has invited tenders for setting up dialysis units, cath labs, MRI and CT scan facilities, and even a blood bank for transfusion patients in various peripheral hospitals through private operators.

New Model Replaces PPP for Hospital Services in Peripheral Facilities

This time, however, the outsourcing will be done under a new ‘Civic Health Collaboration Model’ instead of the earlier public-private partnership (PPP) framework.

Under this model, the civic body will rent out space in its peripheral hospitals to private operators, who will run these services and charge patients as per agreed rates. However, there is no clarity on the minimum number of patients to be referred daily from BMC hospitals for these facilities.

A senior official from the BMC’s Health Department admitted the model is not significantly different from the earlier PPP arrangement. “It is similar to the PPP model, where patients still have to pay for these services,” the official said.

The peripheral hospitals where this model will be implemented include Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, MT Agarwal in Mulund, Dr Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli, Bhabha Hospitals in Bandra and Kurla, and Bhagwati Hospital in Borivali.

Dialysis at Rs 500 per Session for BMC Patients; Government Scheme Rates Apply

Under the new model, the civic body will set up dialysis centres at its peripheral hospitals in Borivali, Mulund, Ghatkopar, and Kandivali for a period of 10 years, with the option of two extensions of 10 years each. BMC patients will be charged Rs 500 per dialysis session, while those covered under government schemes will be billed as per approved rates.

Similarly, MRI and CT scan facilities will be established at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital, Kandivali (West), Khurshidjee Behramjee Bhabha General Hospital, Bandra (West), Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital, Borivali, and M.T. Agrawal Municipal Hospital, Mulund. The civic body will provide dedicated space for these services on an annual rental basis.

Activists Warn of Commercialisation, Lack of Patient Referral Safeguards

However, the tender documents do not specify the service charges or the minimum number of BMC-referred patients to be served daily. “Without such clarity, the private operator could run the facility for commercial purposes, catering to patients from outside hospitals,” warned a health activist.

Health activists have questioned whether the civic body — which operates 212 health posts, 192 dispensaries, 30 maternity homes, and five specialised hospitals, including four medical colleges and major hospitals in the city — is steadily moving towards the privatisation of key healthcare services. “We have already seen doctors being appointed on contract, and even an unregistered doctor working in the ICU of V.N. Desai Hospital,” one activist said.

Maharashtra

Mumbai arms supplier arrested from Ghatkopar depot

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Mumbai: Police has claimed to have arrested an arms supplier from Ghatkopar Bus Depot who had come here to supply arms to Mumbai. The Mumbai Police Ghatkopar Anti-Gang Squad received information about this. The police laid a trap and took the accused into custody and recovered two country-made pistols and four live cartridges from his possession. During the investigation, the police asked him his name and he revealed his name as Ajay Kailash, a resident of Ujjain. The police have registered a case in this matter and started the investigation. Pantnagar Police has started the investigation in this matter to find out from where the accused had brought the arms to supply arms. This action was taken by DCP Rakesh Ola on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

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Crime

Thane: Man Stabbed To Death In Dombivali Hotel After Minor Altercation

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Thane: A man was stabbed to death in Dombivali in Thane district during an altercation after he accidentally brushed against another person, a police official said on Monday.

The incident took place in a hotel in the early hours of Sunday in MIDC Phase 1 area, the Manpada police station official said.

“Akash Bhanu Singh (38) and his friends were having dinner at the hotel when he accidentally brushed against the accused, who picked up a fight. He along with some others stabbed Singh to death. Two of Singh’s friends, who tried to save him, also sustained injuries and have been hospitalised,” the official said.

Four persons were booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for murder and other offences, though no arrest has been made, he said.

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Crime

‘Don’t You Know Marathi?’: Vadapav Vendor & Two Others Assaulted By Four Men Over Language Dispute In Kalyan

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Mumbai: In a troubling incident on Sunday night in Kalyan East near Chakkinaaka and Santoshnagar, a vadapav vendor and two of his companions were brutally assaulted by four men. The attack occurred after the assailants asked the vendor, “Do you know how to speak Marathi?” and began the assault when he did not respond affirmatively.

The vendor, identified as Vishnu Thapa, and his co-workers told police at the Colsewadi station that they work at a small eatery named Riddhi Bhojanalay. Around 8 pm two unknown men arrived at the shop, ate food and left. They returned shortly after and confronted Thapa with the question “Marathi ye­t nahi ka?” (“Don’t you know Marathi?”). Without waiting for a response they started beating him. He suffered serious injury to his nose in the first attack.

After the two men left, Thapa and his colleagues resumed work. Minutes later the men returned, this time bringing two others. The group of four again raised the language question and launched a fresh attack. Co-worker Madan Thapa was hit with a stone slab. Another colleague, Ali Khan, had his mobile phone smashed to the floor amid the chaos. The assailants also vandalised the shop, throwing food, utensils and trays outside.

The three victims were taken to hospital for treatment. A First Information Report has been registered at the Colsewadi police station and investigations are underway, with Police Constable Jadhav assigned to the case. Locals say the area has long been troubled by harassment of street vendors and extortion attempts; some offenders had been removed by police about 18 months ago.

The incident has raised serious concerns among workers and local vendors who feel vulnerable in the wake of such attacks. For many migrants eating and operating in the city, language and region should not become triggers for violence. City police have been urged to increase patrols in the zone and ensure protection for small street-vendors, especially during late evening hours.

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