The corporation for the first time has planned five such conclaves with various stakeholders to arrive at strategies ahead of budget allocation next year.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar said, “We have identified the overhaul of primary health services as a focus area. We have already categorized our dispensaries into four categories — A,B, C, and D. Category A lists those that require little intervention, while those under D need to be demolished and B and C categories comprise dispensaries that require sustained interventions.”

Mhaiskar added that BMC authorities were also evaluating areas where dispensaries were required, but missing and the areas where they are superfluous. Other plans include motivational and clinical training for dispensary staff.

“We want to create a brand image of our primary health services in slums by upgrading their physical infrastructure and giving them a cleaner and uniform look, perhaps with a new BMC logo,” said Mhaiskar.

This will be followed by an upheaval of the maternity homes and primary health posts, according to BMC authorities. Mhaiskar also announced a tie up of the three main teaching hospitals with peripheral hospitals from November 4.

Dr Leela Wadia from the Observer Foundation highlighted the need for transparent private partnership models to be established. Neha Madhiwalla from Centre for studies in Ethics and Rights, also cautioned against the prevalent trend of viewing the private sector as a solution to problems. Representatives from Society for Nutrition Education and Health Action (SNEHA) raised the issue of many pregnant women being denied ante-natal registrations in their first trimesters. Other representatives stressed on updating the Bombay Nursing Homes Registration Act for better regulation of private hospitals. Mhaiskar said the following conclaves would be organised with the private sector, doctors from BMC hospitals, Union members and corporators. Sudheendra Kulkarni, Chairman of the ORF, said the discussion should result in an overhaul of the system, that would set an example for the National Urban Health Mission.

Irked over with the inordinate delay, a local municipal councillor Kuljit Singh Bedi has served a legal notice to the state government, threatening to move court if the mandatory approval was not accorded to the works within 15 days. It was in December 2009 that the MC had adopted an unanimous resolution to construct concrete metaled roads in the parking lots of different parking lots in the city.

While the works estimated to cost less than Rs 10 lakh were undertaken, the works in four markets — Phase 3B2, V, VII and X — which were among the busiest markets, could not take off yet awaiting administrative sanction from the state government.

As per norms, the development works estimated to cost more than Rs 10 lakh could not take off until and unless the Director, Local Government (DLG) accords administrative sanction for the same.

Since the works of these four parking lots were estimated to cost over Rs 25 lakh each, the civic body was still awaiting the DLG’s nod. “DLG neither accorded the nod nor raised any objection over the same, which shows his indifference towards the plight of Mohali residents,” lamented Bedi. In a legal notice served on DLG, the councillor demanded mandatory sanction within 15 days otherwise he will move the competent court seeking necessary directions and damages for the delay and increase in cost as well. 

“In the past nine months, the estimated cost has also gone up while the public is suffering a lot,” argued Bedi, while holding the DLG responsible for the delay. He said in case the work was not completed before the onset of winters, it will have to be delayed till next summers when the tarcoal will be available after winters.

Councillor also referred to a case filed by a local hotelier Nirankar Singh, wherein the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed MC to repair parking lot in one of the busiest markets in the city within stipulated time period.