Mumbai’s KEM, Sion and Nair hospitals will receive five advanced 4D echocardiography and colour Doppler systems under a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation procurement decision aimed at strengthening cardiac diagnosis in the city’s public hospitals.
The equipment will enable doctors to assess heart-valve diseases, congenital heart defects and the pumping function of the heart with greater precision, according to a report by Loksatta. The 4D images are also expected to support more accurate decisions related to cardiac surgery.
The civic body plans to purchase three machines for KEM Hospital and one each for Sion Hospital and Nair Hospital. The systems will be procured from GE Healthcare. The reported price of one machine is ₹1,36,00,455, while the total purchase cost for five machines is ₹6,80,02,275.
The procurement package includes a three-year warranty. After the warranty period, the civic body plans to enter into a seven-year comprehensive maintenance contract, extending the reported maintenance period to 14 December 2035. The total expenditure for the equipment, warranty and subsequent maintenance is expected to be approximately ₹9,78,96,000.
According to the reported procurement details, the seven-year maintenance contract after the warranty period will cost ₹2,89,15,313 for all five systems. The annual maintenance rate has been fixed at ₹8,26,151 for each machine, with the contract covering the five systems for seven years.
Echocardiography uses ultrasound to produce images of the heart and assess its structure and function. The addition of 4D imaging and colour Doppler capability is intended to provide more detailed information about blood flow, valves and cardiac movement than conventional diagnostic assessment. The civic hospitals’ new systems are therefore expected to support both diagnosis and treatment planning within the municipal hospital network.
The decision is significant for patients who rely on Mumbai’s public hospitals for specialised cardiac care. The reported objective is to make advanced and accurate diagnosis available to ordinary patients at affordable rates. The three hospitals serve as major public healthcare institutions, and the distribution of equipment gives KEM the largest allocation, with three machines, while Sion and Nair will receive one each.
The procurement also places a long-term responsibility on the municipal administration beyond the initial purchase. The maintenance contract is intended to keep the equipment operational after the warranty expires, while the specified period and annual rates establish the financial commitment required to sustain the systems. The next stage is the purchase and deployment of the five machines across the three hospitals under the approved procurement arrangement.
