Mumbai: BJP wants SevenHills to open for all patients

An oxygen tanker arrives at SevenHills Hospital in Andheri. File pic

The BJP now wants the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to use SevenHills Hospital's state-of-the-art facilities for even non-COVID patients. Abhijeet Samant, corporator from K East ward and BJP leader, has written to civic chief IS Chahal asking him to allow admission of non-COVID patients to the hospital, as the number of active COVID patients is low.

Around 200 beds were allocated to non-COVID patients from January to March 2021 when the caseload was very little, and such patients were charged concessional rates. However, owing to the second wave, the BMC stopped the arrangement and it has not been re-introduced yet despite low number of cases. The corporator insisted that instead of wasting the available beds and facilities, the civic body can put them to use for those who cannot afford a private hospital but are wary of going to municipal hospitals.

Citizens at SevenHills Hospital which, BMC officials, say is part of their preparation for the third wave. File pic

Samant has also pointed out that services of various surgeons and doctors, appointed by the BMC to work in this hospital only for COVID patients, are still available. Now that the hospital is in BMC's possession, if it opens even partial services and space for non-COVID patients for treatment of heart, cancer, kidney, neuro, thyroid ailments and diabetes among others, it will be helpful for the citizens, he said.

The corporator told mid-day that as the multi-specialty hospital has facilities such as cath lab, cardiac surgery equipment, radiation therapy and nuclear medicine facility readily available as well as required specialist doctors, it should be used for the citizens. He also pointed out that there is hardly any hospital in K East ward which has such high-end equipment which can benefit patients. "The hospital should be opened for all at concessional rates so that many can get the required treatment," said Samant.

BMC officials, however, said the hospital was put to use for COVID purposes and only after the fear of pandemic recedes, such things will be considered. They added the preparations for the third wave are in full swing and SevenHills Hospital is a part of such preparedness. An official, not willing to be named, said, "Whatever doctors were appointed were for COVID patients, and there are no full-fledged departments like in our other hospitals. We are still preparing for the third wave and SevenHills Hospital is part of our plan."