At a recent BMC's standing committee meeting, officials agreed to inspect TB centres across the city, to gauge if they can be turned into clinics which offer a wider range of medical services
At a recent BMC's standing committee meeting, officials agreed to inspect TB centres across the city, to gauge if they can be turned into clinics which offer a wider range of medical services
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In a bid to improve public health care standards in the city, the BMC is toying with the idea of replacing its tuberculosis clinics with dispensaries and hospitals.
At a standing committee meeting held last Friday, officials promised to inspect the clinics before reaching a decision on the matter.
MiD DAY had earlier reported on the campaign undertaken at Khar recently, with residents demanding for upgradation of the local TB clinic into a medical clinic offering a wider range of services.
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('Khar TB clinic to be upgraded to hospital?' May 10, 2011) The locals had requested the civic authority to make better use of the ill-used TB clinic, by widening its ambit, since cases of TB are hardly reported any more, ever since the disease has been brought under control.
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"The clinics were constructed at a time when the disease was rampant, in order to provide easy and prompt access to medical treatment. But now the disease is less widespread.
Patients simply collect their medicines from the clinics, and are hardly ever admitted there," confirmed a BMC official.
During the meeting, local corporator Ashish Shelar demanded that action be taken on the matter.
"The incidence of tuberculosis has come down significantly, so the premises can be used for other medical services. Officials have promised to review the clinics and chalk up plans accordingly," he said.
Last year, Shelar had submitted a proposal for redevelopment of the clinic into a hospital with 500-1,000 beds.
The plan was shot down at the municipal general body meeting.
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But the locals are still hopeful. "It is necessary to have better equipped hospitals in the city, especially for people who cannot afford the expensive private hospitals", added Shelar.
Official speak
Dr P Keskar, deputy health officer (TB) said, "There are five TB clinics in the city, one TB hospital and 320 TB centres.
These are maintained by the BMC, which provides free medicines to those afflicted with the disease.
However, 90 per cent of the patients who contract the disease are not admitted to a hospital, but undergo treatment for the first six months after diagnosis."
She further added that approximately 29,000 patients received treatment for tuberculosis annually.
When contacted, the Additional Municipal Commissioner (health) Manisha Mhaiskar said, "I will visit the Khar TB clinic this Saturday, and thereafter review the feasibility of such plans.
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Nothing has been finalised yet."
Rahul Shewale, the standing committee chairperson said, "We can have BMC run hospitals and maternity homes in the city, where the TB clinics used to be. With the TB situation getting better, we can work out something."
Did you know?
There are 320 TB centres in the city, 5 TB clinics, and 1 TB hospital
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