Press Release

Press Release

 In the last seven years, the BMC health budget has increased by 98%, rising from ₹3,637 crore in

2018-19 to ₹7,191 crore in 2024-25.

 Vacancy in BMC Primary Healthcare Facilities (Dispensaries) increased by three times in the last

decade. In 2023 it was 37% against from 12% from 2014.

 In 2023, not a single ward in Mumbai met the criteria of availability of 1 dispensary per 15,000

population, criteria set by Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation

(URDPFI).

 97 of 207 Hindu Hridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackrey clinics are functioning in the premise of existing

municipal dispensary after the dispensaries close for the day, therefore only 110 HBT clinics are

operating in unique locations.

 Over the past decade (2014 to 2023), the top five diseases with the highest number of registered

cases in Mumbai were Diarrhoea (9,36,061), followed by Tuberculosis (3,89,803), Hypertension

(3,70,795), Diabetes (3,70,081) and Dengue (1,39,892).

 Between 2014-2022, top four causes of death were; Diabetes, Major Respiratory Diseases,

Tuberculosis and Hypertension. 

Mumbai 7 th November 2024: Praja Foundation released ‘Report on the Status of Health Issues in Mumbai 2024’. The report aims to focus on issues of primary health care, sensitive diseases, respiratory diseases and healthcare personnel data that affects health and well-being of Mumbai’s residents as well as their ability to contribute to the process of development effectively.

“In 2014, total of 2,428 deaths were caused by lifestyle diseases such as diabetes which have risen by 485% to 14,207 in 2022, becoming the leading cause of death in Mumbai”, said Milind Mhaske, CEO of Praja Foundation. “This alarming trend highlights the need to follow the Urban and Regional Development Plans Formulation and Implementation (URDPFI) Guidelines set by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) to guide urban planning and development across cities and regions. “Among these guidelines is the recommendation that at least 10 square meters of open space per person should be available, promoting public health, physical activity, and well-being. However, Mumbai’s Development Plan (2014-2034) proposes only 3 square meters of open space per person, a stark shortfall that not only highlights the urgent need for more open spaces but also points to the broader issue of inadequate infrastructure to support the health and well-being of its citizens”, he continued.

Air quality in Mumbai is steadily declining in recent years. From 2019 to 2022, the city's average air quality has declined, from Satisfactory (51-100 AQI) to Moderate (101-200 AQI), said Eknath Pawar, Associate Manager- Capacity Building Mumbai. “During the same period (2019 to 2022), there were 33,711 deaths due to Major Respiratory Diseases deaths and Respiratory Tuberculosis further contributed to 13,524 deaths. This highlights the serious threat air pollution poses to the residents of Mumbai. In 2023, the air quality took a further hit as there was not even a single month where the recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) was in the Good category (0-50)”, he continued.

“In Mumbai, there is a shortage of 525 dispensaries as per the URDPFI norms. A total of 191 municipal dispensaries are operational in the city, however, only 95% of these clinics (181) are operating for only 7 hours a day”, said Shreyas Chorgi- Associate Manager-Research, Praja Foundation. “The addition of 207 Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray (HBT) clinics in 2022 has been a welcome step to reduce the burden on municipal dispensaries. However, 97 of the 207 HBT clinics operate within the same premises as municipal dispensaries. Additionally, only 6% (13 out of 207) of the HBT clinics are accessible for 14 hours (7:00 AM to 10:00 PM). To better serve all areas, municipal and HBT clinics should operate for 14 hours, especially in wards with large slum populations”, he further added.

“In the past three years, municipal elections have not been held, and the BMC has been operating without elected representation. As a result, the health committee has not been formed to address important health issues”, said Mr Mhaske in his closing remarks. “The overall health situation highlights the need for greater citizen involvement in the city’s public health functions. The National Health Management Information System (NHMIS) must be fully operational to ensure the efficient real-time collection of health data, including information on deaths and diseases. To transform Mumbai into a world-class city and improve the health of its citizens, the BMC must prioritise access to open spaces and strengthen primary healthcare services. This approach will promote healthier lifestyles and help tackle the growing challenge of lifestyle-related diseases”, he concluded.

About PRAJA Foundation:

Over the last two decades, Praja has been working towards enabling accountable governance. We conduct data-driven research on civic issues and inform key stakeholders such as Elected Representatives (ER), citizens, media, and government administration and work with ERs to equip them to address inefficiencies in their work processes, bridging the information gaps, and mobilising them in taking corrective measures while advocating for change. PRAJA's goals are simplifying people's lives, empowering the citizens and government with facts and creating instruments of change to improve the quality of life of citizens in India. PRAJA is committed to creating an accountable and efficient society through people's participation.