BMC Secures Contractor to Manage 153 ICU Beds Across Suburban Hospitals After Months of Delays
Mumbai: After months of delays and four deadline extensions, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally secured a contractor to manage 153 intensive care unit (ICU) beds spread across 12 of its suburban hospitals. Three healthcare companies have come forward with proposals to run these critical care facilities.
Tender Process and Contract Details
The civic body had issued the tender on July 25 but initially received only one bid. With repeated extensions and minimal response, the process dragged on for two months before gaining traction.
“The final date for submission was October 1, and three companies showed interest,” confirmed Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sharad Ugade.
Under a two-year agreement, BMC will spend Rs 3,367 per bed per day, amounting to Rs 33.05 crore for the operation of 153 ICU beds. Specialists such as anesthesiologists, surgeons, and MD doctors will be outsourced to manage these units.
A senior health official noted that BMC has already been successfully operating 50 ICU beds through outsourcing, which adds confidence to the expanded plan.
Temporary Measures at Peripheral Hospitals
Earlier, the Health Department of BMC instructed four peripheral hospitals to manage their Medical Intensive Care Units (MICU) and Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICU) with internal resources after the outsourcing contract expired on August 30, despite an extension being granted.
A senior health department official confirmed that the ICU beds reserved at these hospitals will now be operated by the hospital staff themselves.
According to a senior civic official, this is only a temporary measure, as the process of appointing a new contractor is expected to be completed within the next one to two months.
Experts Question Need for Outsourcing
However, several health experts, including doctors from BMC-run hospitals, have questioned the need for outsourcing ICU services altogether.
“For the last two weeks, hospitals have been managing ICU beds with their own resources. This can continue, and there is no real need to outsource them,” said a doctor, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Also Watch: ICU Beds Being Outsourced in Key BMC Hospitals
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