HC asks Thane civic body to make 100-bed hospital in Mumbra functional soon

During the previous hearing in September this year, observing “there cannot be denial that Article 21 of the Constitution protects every citizen’s right to seek good and affordable healthcare”, the bench had pulled up the TMC for its alleged apathy in completing the construction of the hospital.

The bench had appointed a three-member court commission consisting of a medical professional, a qualified civil engineer and a lawyer to ascertain the status.

On Wednesday, senior advocate Yusuf Muchhala for the petitioner submitted that most of the people in surrounding areas were under middle income or lower income groups and their right to have affordable medical health was important. Hence the hospital, conceived in 2008, should be made functional. Muchhala also argued that for the population under poverty line, there needs to be affordable medical assistance and the charges need to be controlled.

The bench, however, said that it cannot carve out a scheme specific to the hospital as it has to be unilaterally applied across all hospitals in the state.

The court asked the TMC to file additional an affidavit disclosing details of the steps taken in contemplation of the corporation for providing affordable medical care services to the needy and the persons belonging to economically weaker sections of the society.

“We are concerned about the poor. It is just about having a good building but something needs to be served to the poor. We will dispose of the PIL with suitable directions on the next date of hearing and we want this hospital to come up and be functional early,” the bench said and posted further hearing to December 8.