Municipal officials have assured significant improvements in patient services at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)-run King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital within the next 15 days, including the establishment of 10 new registration counters and empanelment of private magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) centres at civic-approved rates, reported PTI.
The century-old KEM Hospital, located in Parel, is one of Mumbai’s largest medical facilities, catering to thousands of patients daily from the city and across the country.
The assurances came during a joint review meeting at the BMC headquarters on Wednesday, chaired by Maharashtra Cabinet member and Mumbai’s co-guardian minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Mumbai Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Satam. The meeting followed Lodha’s inspection visit to the hospital earlier this week.
According to a release from Lodha’s office, civic officials confirmed that a tender will soon be floated to allow patients to access MRI scans at private diagnostic centres at BMC-approved rates while the hospital’s MRI machine is under repair. This move is expected to reduce the current six-month waiting period for MRI scans.
The BMC also assured that 10 additional registration counters will be set up to ease patient flow. These measures are based on complaints and feedback raised by the minister during the meeting.
Addressing concerns over medicine shortages, Lodha directed officials to maintain a two-year stock of essential medicines, which the civic body assured will be replenished promptly.
A vigilance committee comprising citizen representatives will be formed under Lodha’s leadership to monitor patient grievances and service delivery at the hospital, reported PTI.
Lodha, who holds portfolios for skill development, employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the Mahayuti government, emphasised that these steps are part of a broader initiative to improve services across civic-run hospitals in Mumbai.
“The corrupt and ineffective system built over the past 25 years by previous BMC administrations will soon be dismantled under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ leadership,” Lodha asserted.
Security to be heightened at Mumbai`s civic hospitals
In the aftermath of the recent security lapse at Cooper Hospital, wherein three doctors were assaulted by the kin of a patient after the latter was declared dead, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has initiated a system-wide review of safety protocols across all its hospitals.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) Sharad Ughade, in a meeting conducted late on Monday, issued a formal communication to assistant security officers (officials responsible for security at civic hospitals) seeking detailed recommendations on security changes required at each hospital, from peripheral to major civic hospitals across the city.
Hospital deans and medical superintendents have been directed to assess existing arrangements, identify vulnerabilities, and propose both immediate and long-term upgrades. “The objective is to develop hospital-specific security plans instead of a uniform model, acknowledging that infrastructure, patient load, and spatial challenges vary significantly across BMC establishments,” Ughade told mid-day.
Parallel discussions are underway on whether Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel can be deployed, if not at all, at least at larger peripheral hospitals. Currently, MSF has a presence only at three major BMC hospitals — KEM, Nair and Sion hospitals. “Extending its services is being considered as a measure to ensure trained and disciplined manpower at high-footfall facilities. Feasibility, cost implications, and deployment logistics are being discussed,” Ughade added.
In addition, all BMC hospitals have been instructed to maintain a weekly log of security lapses and submit compiled reports to the deputy municipal commissioner every month. The move aims to create regular oversight, improve accountability, and enable data-driven decisions on security improvements.
(With PTI inputs)
