Not getting treatment due to non-availability of beds at civic-run hospitals might become a thing of the past. Mumbaikars will soon be able to check at all major civic-run hospitals whether beds that are reserved for the less privileged are available at hospitals like Lilavati and Nanavati that are run under the Charity Commission. The project was started in JJ hospital two to three weeks ago, and by the end of December, it will be implemented in all other major civic hospitals too. Patients can see in real-time how many beds are available in as many as 74 Commission-run hospitals like Jaslok and Breach Candy.

Setting up TV screens
Idzes Kundan, additional commissioner (health), BMC, said, "In a move to relieve the pressure on tertiary care public hospitals like KEM, Sion, Nair and Cooper, the public health department has tied up with the Charity Commission to make use of their scheme for 'indigenous patients,' which is hardly utilised. We're going to set up TV screens at these [civic] hospitals, which will give real-time information about bed availability."