“Rs 110 crore in dues to Wadia hospital to run the children and maternal departments”, hospital authority claims
MUMBAI| On Monday Staff of Wadia hospital stand out to protest against the State government and BMC. Parel’s Wadia hospital, specialising in maternal and child care stopped admitting patients. The replay given was due to lack of funds and for not clearing dues they have stopped the services. Blaming BMC this action was exercise.
On Saturday, the hospital put out a notice stating they have stopped admitting the patients who are critical because the hospital cannot afford medical equipment and supplies. BMC has stopped clearing their dues. Staging protest against the civic body from January 13 to 15.
Following the issue, civic body on Sunday said that pending dues of the last quarter will be paid by next week.
The chairperson of the civic health committee of BMC, Amey Ghole, while addressing the issue said, ‘BMC has paid the hospital till September 2019. The civic body will now pay for the October-December quarter as well, it will deduct 10 per cent of dues as the hospital has not complied with rules’.
The BMC is supposed to pay for 75 per cent of the operational cost of Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital, besides sharing the operational cost of the maternity hospital with the government.
Amey Ghole shared the reasons behind the withholding dues since last October. “KEM hospital dean and accounts officer must be a part of the hospital’s managing committee, this is yet to happen. Scrutiny of accounts had shown that 14 to 18 employees were receiving double salaries this needed to be scrutinised. Also, the hospital was not using the scheduled medicines that the BMC advised”.
The reasons for the with held Amt were 1) There is a scrutiny in accounts were double payments were made to the staff 2) On the Managing Committee the Dean of KEM & Dy. CA Health should be taken which is not done yet 3) Hospital is not using Schedule Medicines which are cheaper
— Amey Ghole (@AmeyGhole) January 12, 2020
On Saturday, the hospital had to shut admissions in cardiology, neurology, nephrology, orthopaedic and pathology departments citing it could no longer pay vendors. In all, BMC has to pay Rs 31.44 crore to Nawrosjee hospital and Rs 105.85 crore to Bai Jerbai hospital.
Dr Minnie Bodhanwala, MD at Wadia hospital, said, “We have complied with all terms and conditions as per the government resolution. A PIL in this matter has been filed in court the matter is now sub judice.”
A hospital spokesperson said as per the trust deed, four members from BMC should be on the board of management for Bai Jerbai Wadia hospital and two members each from BMC and the state for Nawrosjee hospital. “It is up to BMC to decide whom they want to appoint.”
Former Minister and BJP MLA Ashish Shelar have hit out at the Shiv Sena and written a letter to Mumbai Mayor Kishore Pednekar to start the hospital immediately.
वाडिया रुग्णालय आणि महापालिका यामध्ये सुरू असलेली तू तू मै मै यामागे वेगळाच "डाव"? रुग्णालय बंद करुन कोट्यवधीची मोक्याची जागा हडप करण्याचे वाडिया आणि पालिकेतील सत्ताधाऱ्यांचे हे षडयंत्र? तातडीने रुग्णालय पुर्ण क्षमतेने सुरु करा! आम्ही तुमचा हा डाव हाणून पाडू! रस्त्यावर उतरू!! pic.twitter.com/NNc5rjADnp
— Adv. Ashish Shelar – ॲड. आशिष शेलार (@ShelarAshish) January 13, 2020
Ashish Shelar has also warned the state government if not then BJP will come on the street in support of Wadia to stage protest against the government.
The shut down has also caused an inconvenience to several parents whose children were to undergo surgeries, leaving them in a dilemma.
Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila also joined the protesting employees at the hospital, she said, “Where should the poor go to take treatment? The BMC and the respective minister should conduct a meeting and find a solution to the crisis. We will not let the hospital shut down”, warned Sharmila Thackeray.
Over the last few days, the hospital has also shut its doors on hundreds of patients and those admitted are being discharged.
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