Politicos' hunger for free services, provided using public money, never seem to die. After seeking a series of freebies, one more demand has come to fore with a former corporator seeking free medical services at city's known private super specialty hospitals.
The municipal commissioner, however, has shot down the demand.
Former Shiv Sena corporator Manohar Chonkar had in 2009 moved a notice of motion insisting private hospitals like Lilavati, Sushrusha, Hinduja, Nanavati, Wockhardt, Bombay, Jaslok and Asian Heart Institute provide free medical services of all types to serving and former councilors.
Chonkar had reasoned that corporators toil for residents without caring for their health and hence, it is required that they be given free services.
Civic chief Sitaram Kunte had turned down the notice of motion last year saying the demand to provide super specialty services through private hospitals doesn't fall under BMC's purview. Members of municipal health committee though were not satisfied with Kunte's reply and on June 26, 2013 insisted the municipal commissioner to reconsider the demand. The corporators said since BMC supplies water at concessional rates to the hospitals on humanitarian grounds and extends co-operation through different departments, then the hospitals must provide the services to corporators, trustee of the BMC, for free.
The municipal commissioner, in his letter dated February 11, 2014, refused to entertain the demand again. Citing Bombay Nursing Home Registration Act, 1949, Kunte said the BMC registers/re-registers nursing homes and hospitals within BMC-administered areas. But it can't regulate rates charged by private hospitals. "And also since it is policy matter, it will be appropriate if the state government decides on it," his statement reads.
"There is nothing new in what the corporators have demanded. They want everything for free, while people are left to pay for services which are supposed be provided for free to them," Rohan Sawant, an Andheri resident, reacted.
The BMC has provided free laptops, cell phones and bills up to Rs 1200 and passes of AC bus service of BEST, which has already reported losses. Besides, chairpersons of statutory committees get Rs 1200 as allowance for serving tea to visitors at their cabins.
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