Civic hospitals to offer minors free treatment

ALMOST 30% PATIENTS VISITING THESE CENTRES ARE MINORS

MUMBAI: People under 18 years will now receive treatment free of cost across the city’s civic hospitals, according to a new proposal passed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) standing committee last week.

The initiative is a part of the Centre’s Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) scheme that aims at early identification and intervention of childhood diseases, birth defects and deficiencies and developmental delays.

According to Dr Hemant Deshmukh, dean, KEM hospital, it is roughly estimated that around 30% of all patients who visit all civic hospitals are under the age of 18.

Dr Padmaja Keskar, BMC’S executive health officer, said, “Although all treatments at civic hospitals have nominal charges, the cost of treating congenital cardiac abnormalities makes it difficult for parents to pay for.”

“With this initiative, these treatments will be completely free of cost,” she added.

A BMC official said the project will cost around ₹13 crores.

Additional municipal commissioner, Idzes Kundan, said schools will be linked to the nearest civic hospital where children will be referred.

“The idea is to maintain all the medical records of children systematically at one centre, so it becomes easy for follow-ups and there is no overcrowding.”

Kundan added this was the first time the BMC was introducing special desks at its hospitals.