Aaditya Thackeray says civic hospitals in Mumbai left to fend for themselves | Mumbai News – Times of India

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena’s UBT faction leader Aaditya Thackeray has raised serious concerns about the deteriorating state of civic hospitals in Mumbai. He specifically targeted both the BMC and Maharashtra chief minister, Eknath Shinde, accusing them of allowing the situation to reach a critical point.
Thackeray lamented that even hospitals operated by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are currently struggling to provide essential medical care due to a lack of fundamental resources and support from both the BMC administration and the Central Purchase Department.
Taking to the platform formerly known as Twitter (now referred to as X), Thackeray expressed his frustration, noting that the municipal corporation tends to respond only when issues are brought into the public domain.
Thackeray’s outrage was palpable as he criticized what he termed the “illegitimate Mindhe-BJP regime,” accusing them of mismanaging Mumbai’s civic services. He directed his ire primarily at the chief minister, stating that the city’s governance under their leadership has been deeply unsatisfactory.
Drawing attention to the BMC administration’s practices, Thackeray alleged that over the past year, it has been more aligned with serving builders and contractors than with fulfilling its duty to the citizens. He underlined the stark contrast between this approach and the previous tenure when the Shiv Sena (undivided) led by his father, Uddhav Thackeray, had controlled the well-endowed BMC for an extended period, from 1997 to 2022.
At present, the administration of the BMC has been entrusted to an appointed administrator since last March, following the expiration of the civic body’s term. However, elections for new leadership are still pending.
Aaditya Thackeray also highlighted the dedication of medical professionals and staff at Sion Hospital, who continue to strive tirelessly despite the challenging circumstances. He expressed deep concern over the scarcity of essential supplies like basic medicines, medical gloves, and X-ray films at the hospital. Despite the hospital’s dire situation, Thackeray pointed out that the BMC administration’s support has been lacking.
Thackeray found it perplexing that the BMC administration and Central Purchase Department expect BMC hospitals to fulfill tasks that properly fall under the jurisdiction of the CPD. He asserted that these departments have seemingly forgotten their responsibilities under the current administration.
In addition to the resource shortages, Thackeray revealed that promotions for doctors have been halted for a year, and numerous positions remain vacant within BMC hospitals. He posed a straightforward question regarding the timeline for addressing these issues: When will promotions be reinstated, and when can citizens expect these vacancies to be filled?
(With inputs from PTI)