BMC to re-tender for dialysis centres

After the NGOs give a cold shoulder to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) dialysis centre on charitable model, it is all set to go for re-tendering and increase the rates of dialysis to get more people.

“According to the tender, the centres will charge patients coming for dialysis on BMC rates. We got only two organisations coming forward for one in Jogeshwari and the other in Borivli,” said Dr GT Ambe, executive health officer, BMC.

The BMC has been planning to open standalone dialysis centres across the city where the life-saving treatment can be done at a minimal cost — Rs350 per session.

Tenders for four such centres were floated by the public-private partnership (PPP) cell on August 20. The centres will come up on civic plots, including three in the eastern suburbs and one in the western suburbs.

Among those in the eastern suburbs, two will be inside premises of Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar and Shatabdi hospital in Govandi, while the third will come up on a maternity centre plot at Mulund’s Nanepada. The fourth centre will come up on a dispensary plot at Jogeshwari’s Millat Nagar.

These will be set up and run on lease by registered private trusts and medical institutions. “We will hand over possession of the built-up land. The private parties will then have to erect and maintain the facility. The lease will be for 30 years, but it will be renewable after every 10 years,” a department engineer said.  

“We are re-tendering for these centres. We plan to increase the rates but the organisations have to charge people sent by BMC on BMC rates. Once we get people for building the centres, in three months they should be open for people,” said Dr Ambe.