Mumbai, Ramesh Autade
Strong opposition is mounting against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) move to privatize public healthcare services and hospitals in the city. Health employees’ unions, social organizations, and citizen groups have jointly demanded an immediate halt to the privatization process and called for the urgent recruitment of staff to fill long-pending vacancies.
Speaking at a gathering, labor leader Ashokrao Jadhav highlighted the severe shortage of personnel in civic hospitals. “Nearly 46% of doctors’ posts, 26% of nurses and paramedical staff positions, and 42% of labor class posts are vacant across BMC hospitals. Overall, about 36% of total positions remain unfilled, which has seriously affected hospital efficiency,” he said.
Health activist Abhay Shukla added that despite the vacancies, there is an ample pool of qualified medical professionals available who could be appointed immediately to strengthen the public health system.
The unions have demanded that the privatization plan be scrapped without delay, independent reviews of proposed projects be conducted, and regular recruitment drives be initiated for all vacant posts of doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and sanitation workers. They have also urged the government to increase the healthcare budget in proportion to the city’s growing population to ensure accessible and equitable services for all citizens.
As part of the ongoing health movement, a state-level convention on public healthcare will be held in Mumbai on November 30, to intensify the campaign against privatization and advocate for stronger public health infrastructure.
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