BMC appoints babus as hospital CEOs; move slammed

Mumbai: After all parties opposed the appointment of private-sector CEOs for administering civic-run hospitals, the BMC on Tuesday appointed assistant commissioners as CEOs for BMC hospitals. However, political parties opposed the appointments arguing that the additional responsibility would burden the bureaucrats.

Kiran Dighavkar, ward officer of G (North), was appointed as CEO of KEM Hospital and Sion Hospital. On the other hand, Devidas Kshirsagar, ward officer of P (South), was appointed CEO of Nair and Nair Dental Hospital.

Both assistant commissioners will report to the deans of their respective hospitals. As per the appointment letters issued to them, they would have to devote at least a day in the week for administrative work in the hospitals.

The issue of appointing CEOs for civic-run hospitals was first raised in the BMC after the tragic accident involving three-year-old Prince Rajbhar. Prince had lost his arm in a freak accident at the civic-run KEM Hospital. On Tuesday, his family refused to take compensation of '5 Lakh and demanded a job for a family member in the BMC.

“I oppose ward officers (assistant commissioners) becoming CEOs. They will be overburdened by work so they will not be able to do justice to their work in the ward as well as hospitals,” said Vishakha Raut, Sena corporator and leader of the House. “Though I have not opposed the appointment of CEOs from the private sector, I suggest appointment of a retired dean or an experienced doctor as CEO,” she added.

Congress group leader Ravi Raja also opposed the proposal in the last house meeting.

“Assistant commissioner will not get time for their assigned work which they are supposed to do,” said Mr Raja. He also opposed private-sector CEOs in BMC hospitals, claiming that it will pave the way for privatisation of hospitals.