Mumbai, Sept 28: Patients at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) hospitals will soon benefit from a new digital initiative, enabling them to check bed availability, facilities, and diagnostic services online. The civic body’s health department is developing an online portal, dashboard, and chatbot to provide real-time updates for major hospitals including KEM, Sion, Nair, Cooper, as well as suburban hospitals and primary health centres.
To cut waiting times, a token system will be introduced on a pilot basis at Cooper Hospital.
Alongside digital upgrades, BMC has also approved the establishment of 24×7 generic medicine shops under the Centre’s Jan Aushadhi scheme. Operated by the National Federation of Farmers Procurement Processing and Retailing Co-operative of India Ltd. (NECOF), these outlets will be allotted 150 sq. ft. space in hospitals and sell medicines at subsidised rates.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Sharad Ughade confirmed that the facilities will extend to suburban, speciality, and super-speciality hospitals. Shops must follow strict guidelines, including FDA-approved storage, round-the-clock operations, and compliance with National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA) pricing norms.
Patients will also benefit from a mandatory 5% discount on branded medicines.
