BMC to Revamp Healthcare with ₹7,380 Crore Allocation
In a significant move to bolster healthcare in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has earmarked a substantial ₹7,380.43 crore in its 2025-26 budget, which is part of a larger ₹74,427 crore overall budget for the city. The allocation underscores BMC’s commitment to improving medical services through hospital redevelopment, disease prevention initiatives, and the expansion of healthcare facilities across Mumbai.
A key highlight of the healthcare budget is the addition of 3,515 new beds in municipal hospitals. The aim is to increase hospital capacity, with special focus on intensive care and neonatal ICU services in suburban hospitals. Additionally, the ongoing Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray – Aapla Dawakhana initiative, which has already served 90 lakh patients, will see further expansion. In the coming year, 25 new Aapla Dawakhana centres and three physiotherapy centres will be established across the city.
As part of BMC’s efforts to make healthcare more accessible, free diagnostic services such as X-rays, ECGs, CT scans, MRIs, and mammographies will be provided at municipal rates through private labs. Public-private partnerships will also play a significant role in healthcare delivery, with private institutions set to operate and maintain hospitals for up to 30 years. Notable developments include the construction of a 490-bed Bhagwati Hospital and a 300-bed hospital in the M/East Ward, along with the establishment of several diagnostic and multi-specialty centres across Mumbai. Key infrastructural upgrades are also planned, with major hospitals such as Nair and Cooper Hospital set to receive significant boosts. Nair Hospital will see a new oncology and emergency department, while Cooper Hospital will have a 150-bed cancer unit equipped with advanced radiation therapy equipment. Meanwhile, KEM, Nair, and LTMG Hospitals will expand IVF and dialysis services. LTMG Hospital will also undergo redevelopment to include a nursing college and an oncology building.
The BMC is also prioritising disease prevention, with a focus on cancer screening and maternal health. A cancer screening initiative will target 30 lakh citizens, with HPV vaccinations being offered to girls aged 9 to 14 to prevent cervical cancer. Additionally, efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) will include the distribution of TB care kits and the launch of a Next-Generation Sequencing pilot project for improved TB diagnosis. Maternal and child healthcare will see key initiatives, including the expansion of the ‘Maa Mitra’ helpdesk program for high-risk pregnancies, door-to-door health check-ups under the ‘Aarogya Seva Aaplya Dari’ initiative, and the establishment of new nutrition rehabilitation centres for malnourished children. BMC will also continue its immunisation efforts with 52,000 vaccination sessions across the city every year. With these bold initiatives, BMC’s 2025-26 healthcare budget aims to enhance the accessibility, quality, and coverage of medical services in Mumbai, creating a more robust healthcare infrastructure for its citizens.
