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Journalism of Courage
It is a common sight around Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Parel, the biggest cancer hospital in Asia, where many patients and their family members take shelter on nearby footpaths as they can’t afford to rent hotel rooms in Mumbai.
To provide some relief to these needy patients who come to the hospital from across India, TMH on Tuesday inaugurated a new hostel that can accommodate 100 patients and their family members. The facility is 10 minutes away from the hospital.
During the pandemic, former housing minister Jitendra Awhad had announced a decision to provide 100 flats under the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority’s (MHADA) to TMH.
The one bedroom-kitchen flats are around 250 square feet and have basic amenities such as one double bed, one sofa-cum-bed and refrigerator, among others. The furniture at each flat has been provided as a CSR initiative of HDFC AMC with the Rotary Club of Bombay, which planned, implemented and will maintain the hostel.
“We already have over 1,000 beds… outside our hospital to provide accommodation to patients who come from outside Mumbai. Despite this, we see patients on footpaths. So, we are hoping to provide some relief to the patients who will be given accommodation in these flats during the course of their treatment,” said Dr Rajendra Badwe, director of Tata Memorial Centre.
Dr Shailesh Shrikhande, gastrointestinal cancer surgeon and deputy director at the hospital who spearheaded the project, said that at present, the hospital receives 50 inquiries daily for accommodation, out of which only 50 per cent requests can be fulfilled.
Considering the growing incidences of cancer and the rising footfall at TMH, the administration is also making alternative arrangements of 300 flats inside the nearby Haffkine Institute.
