PMC to upgrade 11 MHCs to general hospitals for Rs 90 crore

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has initiated a plan to strengthen its public healthcare system by upgrading 11 municipal health centres into modern general hospitals. A budget of ₹90 crore has been allocated for the project, as announced in the civic budget by Standing Committee Chairman Shrinath Bhimale.

The selected facilities include six maternity homes and five outpatient department (OPD) hospitals. The move aims to improve access to quality healthcare for economically weaker and middle-class citizens who largely depend on PMC services.

At present, the PMC operates 54 OPDs and 19 maternity homes across the city, catering to around 11,000 to 12,000 patients daily. However, many centres face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, staff shortages, and administrative delays, which limit the quality of care.

Currently, Kamala Nehru Hospital is the only major general hospital run by the PMC. Considering the growing population and increasing healthcare demands, the civic body has decided to upgrade selected facilities into fully equipped general hospitals.

A joint inspection of the identified centres will be conducted by the PMC’s building and electrical departments. Based on the findings, a detailed plan will be prepared, covering infrastructure upgrades, modern medical equipment, electrical systems, and staffing requirements.

The hospitals identified for upgradation include Rajiv Gandhi Hospital (Yerawada), Laigude Hospital (Vadgaon), Sanjay Gandhi Hospital (Bopodi), Dalvi Hospital (Shivajinagar), and Malati Kachi Hospital (Gadikhana). Additionally, Sonawane Maternity Home (Bhavani Peth), Rajmata Jijau Nursing Home, Dhanakawadi Hospital, Shivarkar Hospital (Wanwadi), Sutar Hospital (Kothrud), and Khedekar Hospital (Bopodi) are part of the plan. Punekar News