Mumbai: Officials to reconsider move to de-list three civic hospitals

The three municipal hospitals cater mostly to the large slum clusters in the eastern suburbs and had witnessed a large patient enrollment for procedures covered under the MJPJAY. “The free surgeries stopped after the three hospitals were de-empaneled,” Khan said, adding that a protest will be launched outside the MJPJAY office on January 29 if the BMC hospitals are not immediately re-empaneled.

The MJPJAY can empanel a maximum of 500 hospitals across Maharashtra under the insurance scheme. Officials claimed they planned to enrol a Chembur-based private hospital that is expected to perform better than the BMC facilities.

The three hospitals were empaneled in July 2012. MJPJAY officials told The Indian Express that the three were found ‘non-performing’ during inspection. “The hospitals were undergoing renovation. It is better to empanel another hospital that could serve patients instead of waiting for BMC’s long due redevelopment to get over,” a senior MJPJAY official said.

While Kurla Bhabha and Veer Sawarkar hospital were served 35 notices, MT Agrawal was given 36 notices. The three were de-empaneled in November 2018.

With Khan and the BMC administration challenging the de-empanelment, MJPJAY officials said they would consider re-empanelment after fresh inspections.

The state-run MJPJAY provides insurance coverage up to Rs 1.5 lakh for above and below poverty line families.