BMC rethinks Khar TB clinic upgrade proposal

EIGHT months after a proposal to upgrade MM Munshi TB Clinic in Khar was rejected by the BMC.

EIGHT months after a proposal to upgrade MM Munshi TB Clinic in Khar was rejected by the BMC,the civic body is now rethinking its decision following the recent TB scare.

Last year,corporator Ashish Shelar had submitted a proposal to the BMC for the development of the clinic into a 500-bed hospital with necessary amenities dedicated to TB treatment. However,the BMC shot down the idea claiming the disease was on the decline and TB clinics in the city could be turned into maternity homes instead.

The re-emergence of TB has highlighted the need for improved facilities in the city. The idea was declined the first time,but we put forth our plan again and got positive feedback a few days ago, said Shelar,adding that the details will be discussed in the BMC budget session. The Khar TB clinic is one of the five TB clinics in the city.

Aftab Siddiqui,chairperson of the Khar Advanced Locality Management,had also written to the Additional Municipal Commissioner last year stating the need to have a TB centre with operation theatres,lab testing and CT scan facilities.

The only BMC hospital in this area is Bhabha Hospital,which is already overloaded with patients. The Khar TB clinic has enough space to be developed into a full-fledged hospital. What it needs is bed strength and equipment for TB clinic, said Siddiqui. She said they expect a visit from the Additional Municipal Commissioner soon to develop a design for the upgrade.

While Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar did not comment on the issue,she said upgrade of the clinic is part of the second phase of their anti-TB drive.

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