Mumbai: ‘BMC apathy robbing us of public healthcare’

The erstwhile dispensary of Worli Koliwada was demolished sometime back

Irked by the demolition of the only municipal dispensary-cum-welfare centre of Worli Koliwada village and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) failure to make the makeshift dispensary operational for weeks, residents claim that the civic body's inaction impacts their constitutional right to health.

An activist and practising advocate from Worli Koliwada, Sharad Koli, has threatened to seek legal remedy if the BMC does not make the dispensary functional at the earliest. Born and brought up in Worli Koliwada, Koli said, "There is no primary municipal dispensary and vaccination centre for children in the village. Isn't public healthcare important and indispensable? Isn't it apathetic of the G South ward to delay building an alternative dispensary?"

Koli added, "Containers placed at Varas Lane in the old Municipal School compound to set up a temporary dispensary-cum-welfare centre are not functioning yet. If the issue is not resolved, I will have to seek legal remedy, making BMC and the ward officials party to it."

Containers near the site of the demolished dispensary. A temporary facility has not been created yet

The over 60-year-old ground-plus-two dispensary was demolished after a structural audit declared it as C1 dilapidated and unsafe. Koli explained that residents are forced to visit private doctors charging Rs 100 to Rs 150 and prescribing medicines from outside, or visit hospitals like KEM and Podar where emergency cases are given priority over OPD (Out Patient Department) cases.

"This is why these options are not preferred for minor ailments," said Koli, adding, "Residents are expected to go to the Prabhadevi dispensary where the Worli Koliwada dispensary's staff have been moved. It takes nearly 30 minutes to reach there by foot. Many senior citizens and women are resorting to home remedies and over-the-counter treatments for minor ailments because of this."

BMC dispensary trusted

Resident Vaibhav Worlikar, 36, said, "The civic-run dispensary has been there for decades. My parents took me there when I was a child. It is also trusted for immunisation of children. My wife recently delivered our third child and we could not give the baby a follow-up vaccination on September 26 as the immunisation programme was cancelled for the day due to cleaning work at the shakha."

Vinayak Gajane, a taxi driver, said, "I have no choice but to visit a private doctor as I cannot afford to miss work. I also do not have time to wait in queues or commute to the Prabhadevi dispensary or elsewhere as it is too far and unknown to me. The village dispensary was affordable and easily accessible."

Resident Manish Pawar, 32, said, "Many families are still dealing with the financial shock of the COVID-19-caused lockdown. The civic dispensary was a boon as they could report to work by popping medicines provided free of cost and ensure that they don't lose their pay to absenteeism. The dispensary doctors are most trusted. The ward office should have informed villagers when they plan to start the temporary dispensary. Lack of effective communication leads to misunderstanding."

Financial constraints

Hemangi Worlikar, former corporator from the Shiv Sena (UBT), said, "A new three-storey welfare centre with an inhouse dispensary equipped with a laboratory has been proposed in place of the demolished dispensary-cum-welfare centre. Due to financial constraints, the temporary dispensary which was to be set up in the containers has been delayed. However, the issue has been resolved and soon the temporary dispensary will be made functional. The immunisation facility will be resumed at the same facility. I am following up on the matter with civic officials."

Attempts to contact Santoshkumar Dhonde, assistant municipal commissioner, G South ward, did not yield results. Dr Virendra Mohite, medical officer of health of G South Ward, said, "We are aware of residents' hardships. The file to start the PORTA cabin (container) dispensary at Koliwada has been approved by the civic headquarters."

Dr Mohite added, "We are awaiting the allocation of approximately R1 crore. Once we receive it, civil and electrical work will be completed within a month and the temporary dispensary will be operational along the lines of Aapla Dawakhana from 9 am to 10 pm. One team will run the dispensary from 9 am to 4 pm in the first shift. Patients will have to buy an OPD paper at the charge of Rs 10. From 3 pm to 10 pm, the OPD paper charge will be waived and all services will be provided free of cost. Apart from minor ailments, tuberculosis screening and treatment, including DOTS programme, are also conducted here."

According to Dr Mohite, the dispensary receives 70 to 80 patients daily, resulting in 1,750 to 2,000 patients in a month. On average, eight to 10 infants are immunised daily. Regarding the construction of the new dispensary, Dr Mohite said, "The plan is being made by the municipal architects. I won't be able to comment on the same at the moment."

80
Approx no of daily patients at the civic dispensary