Aarey Milk Colony, a sprawling area home to over one lakh residents, is facing an alarming healthcare crisis, with just one government doctor serving the entire population. This includes residents from tribal hamlets, slums, and families working in the area’s cattle farm units. The sole public hospital in Aarey Colony, once a key healthcare provider, is now barely operational, leaving residents in a precarious situation, especially in cases of medical emergencies.
Despite being promised improvements after a 2013 hunger strike by local leaders, the hospital remains severely understaffed and under-equipped. It’s a stark reminder that, more than a decade later, the plight of Aarey’s residents remains unchanged. The facility offers only basic outpatient services, and serious cases, such as accidents or snake bites, are referred to the distant Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Centre in Jogeshwari or Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle. This delay in care can be life-threatening.
A local resident and chairman of the Navkshitij Charitable Trust shared his frustration: “The hospital was once the main lifeline for Aarey’s population. Today, it’s a shadow of its former self, unable to handle even minor emergencies. We urgently need the Maharashtra government to take over and either fully operationalise the hospital or convert it into a functional primary healthcare facility under the Aapla Dawakhana initiative.” On a recent visit to the hospital, only one doctor and a pharmacist were present, working in a dilapidated building with visible cracks in the structure.
An official from the Aarey CEO’s office explained that the hospital is only equipped to handle minor ailments, such as fever and cough, while emergencies are referred to outside hospitals. The healthcare situation is further compounded by the challenges of transportation and distance, especially for tribal communities living deep within the colony. One resident lamented how snake bite victims have tragically lost their lives due to delays in reaching proper care facilities. The community has repeatedly called for a fully equipped hospital to be established, capable of providing critical care to the area’s vast and diverse population. With Aarey’s population steadily growing, the need for accessible and reliable healthcare is more urgent than ever. It remains to be seen whether authorities will take the necessary action to revamp the hospital and ensure that Aarey’s residents receive the healthcare they desperately need.
