BMC Corporators Demand Urgent Expansion Of NICU Beds In Mumbai Civic Hospitals
On July 20, 2026, corporators at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) general body meeting in Mumbai demanded the urgent expansion of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) facilities and staff in civic hospitals. The demand comes amid a severe shortage of beds that is forcing parents of critically ill newborns to turn to expensive private healthcare facilities.
Mumbai's civic hospitals currently have only 320 NICU beds. Due to this limited capacity, newborns who fall ill after delivery frequently have to be shifted from civic maternity homes to distant municipal or private hospitals. Corporators highlighted that this delays critical treatment and places a heavy financial, physical, and emotional burden on parents.
BJP corporator Priti Satam raised the issue through a notice of motion in the BMC House. She pointed out that while the civic body's 28 maternity homes primarily provide childbirth services, there is a critical need for integrated postnatal care under one roof.
Satam stressed that these integrated services should include early diagnosis and treatment of congenital and nutritional disorders in newborns, paediatrician services, NICU facilities, vaccination, nutritional counselling, and comprehensive mother-and-child healthcare.
Health Committee Chairman Harish Bhandirge stated that he had held two meetings to address the shortage of NICU facilities in civic hospitals. He noted that while there are proposals to expand the existing 320 NICU beds by an additional 250, an ongoing shortage of doctors and nurses remains a major hurdle to implementing the expansion.
In response to the discussion, Mayor Ritu Tawde directed the civic administration to deploy the required doctors and nursing staff wherever necessary. She also ordered the administration to submit a detailed report on the issue at the next meeting.
