A dedicated cardiology ward at Mumbai’s civic-run KB Bhabha Hospital in Bandra is expected to become operational within the next two months, bringing specialised cardiac treatment and lower-cost diagnostic services closer to residents of the western suburbs.
The facility is being established under a public-private partnership model. Ruby Alicare Services Pvt Ltd was selected as the private partner through a tender process, according to a senior hospital official quoted by Mid-Day. Infrastructure work has already begun as part of the second phase of the hospital’s new building.
Under the agreement, the private operator will install medical equipment, deploy staff and manage the cardiac services. The hospital has not previously had a dedicated cardiology ward, requiring patients with heart-related conditions to be referred to civic-run KEM Hospital in Parel.
The new unit is expected to reduce those referrals and ease the patient load at KEM Hospital. It will also provide cardiac investigations needed before surgeries and other procedures at a lower cost than private facilities.
The hospital official said patients, particularly senior citizens and people with existing heart conditions, often require tests such as a 2D echocardiogram and an electrocardiogram before surgery. The official said the absence of a functional cardiology ward had restricted the hospital’s ability to provide these services on site. A 2D Echo, which can cost between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 at private facilities, is expected to be available at KB Bhabha Hospital for about Rs 600.
The cardiology ward will make KB Bhabha Hospital the first civic-run hospital in the stretch between Western Matunga and Santacruz to offer such facilities, according to the report. Services listed for the unit include angioplasty, coronary stenting, atherectomy, rotablation, valvotomy, septostomy, cardiac catheterisation and pacemaker-related procedures.
Indicative rates provided for selected services include Rs 80,000 for coronary angiography and Rs 600 for a 2D Echo. Listed pacemaker-related procedures include dual-chamber ICD implantation at Rs 5.5 lakh, biventricular pacemaker implantation with an over-the-wire lead at Rs 3.55 lakh, CRTD with a bipolar lead at Rs 3.55 lakh, CRTD with a quadripolar lead at Rs 6.55 lakh and CRTP at Rs 2.55 lakh.
The hospital official said the facility would serve not only patients requiring cardiac treatment but also those needing related tests before surgery. The next stated milestone is the completion of infrastructure work and commencement of cardiology services within the two-month target.
