Vendors to stop dressing material supply to Mumbai civic hospitals; Surgeries to be hit

Surgeries in municipal hospitals are set to come to a standstill after vendors, who supply dressing materials such as cotton, gauze, gloves, etc, threatened to stop the supply of these materials over non-payment of bills by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

On February 24, dna had reported how non-payment of vendors' dues has resulted in them stopping supply of medical implants, leading to cancellation of paediatric heart procedures at BMC hospitals.

"I have to receive Rs 5-6 lakh in payments for the last few months. Now the BMC's finance department is not implementing the contracts which will further delay the payment procedure. It is therefore getting difficult to continue with our association with BMC," said a vendor, who has written a letter to senior Corporation officials.

Doctors blame the involvement of CA finance, roped in by BMC to ensure there is no malpractice, in releasing the funds.