Mumbai's BMC launches 'Patient First' to upgrade public healthcare quality

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide has ordered civic hospitals to prioritise a 'Patient First' approach. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare quality, patient facilities, and service reliability across Mumbai’s public health system. During a recent inspection, Bhide visited Shri Harilal Bhagwati Municipal Hospital and Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (Shatabdi) Hospital in Kandivali. She assessed ongoing healthcare services and infrastructure projects, including the 325-bed super-speciality hospital under construction, which is now 48 per cent complete.

Bhide instructed officials to speed up work on the new building while keeping existing services running smoothly. The upcoming facility will provide advanced care in cardiology, nephrology, orthopaedics, and other specialities. She also reviewed monsoon preparedness, drain-cleaning efforts, and measures against illegal constructions nearby.

At the same time, the new 490-bed Harilal Bhagwati Hospital building in Borivali is nearing completion. Equipped with modern medical technology, it is set to open soon. Bhide emphasised the need for transparent and efficient hospital processes to improve citizen-centric care. The BMC’s push for a 'Patient First' approach seeks to upgrade healthcare standards in Mumbai. With new hospitals and stricter oversight, the corporation aims to deliver better services and infrastructure. Officials have been directed to meet deadlines without compromising on quality.