BMC administration asks committee to re-look ‘Aapli Chikitsa’ proposal

Even after the standing committee of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approved a proposal to start pathology tests in 175 civic dispensaries, the administration has asked the committee to re-look the proposal. The civic administration is adamant that there will be no change in the proposed charges for pathology tests.

The committee approved the proposal with an amendment that poor people to get the facility free of cost while rest will pay Rs 50 for basic tests and Rs 100 for advanced tests.  As per the proposal, the civic administration had decided to charge Rs 100 for basic tests and Rs 200 for advanced tests. There are 139 tests to be done at dispensaries of which 101 tests are basic and 38 tests are advanced.

After the proposal was tabled last week, the opposition demanded that the facility should be given free of cost while BJP group leader Manoj Kotak moved an amendment with a proposal to make all tests free of cost for BPL people and Rs 50 and Rs 100 for the basic and advanced tests for rest of the people.

The pathology tests are supposed to start from March 1 in all dispensaries. The BMC has appointed Thyricare and Metropolis to conduct pathological tests. The BMC will pay Rs 223 for basic tests while Rs 892 for advanced tests to contractors.