24-06-2025
BMC's subsidised diagnostic testing programme Aapli Chikitsa set to restart soon in Mumbai
Mumbai: While the incidence of monsoon diseases is rising in the city, the BMC's subsidised diagnostic testing programme will take a few more weeks to become operational again. "Our Aapli Chikitsa programme is on the verge of being finalised.
We need a week or so to get it operational," confirmed deputy municipal commissioner Sharad Ughade.
The scheme lapsed in Dec 2024 after the BMC failed to appoint a new agency to carry out diagnostic tests after the old contract expired. In April, a Pune-based company, Lifenity Health Ltd, emerged as the lowest bidder in the BMC's tender process, offering a rate of Rs 90 against the estimated cost of Rs 100 for basic tests.
The final decision will be made within a week, Ughade said.
The BMC subsidised tests — nearly 100 basic and 40 advanced tests — by paying the difference to the empaneled company. The previously empaneled company, Krsnaa Diagnostics, offered a rate of Rs 86 for basic tests.
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A senior BMC official said the scheme should be back within a month. BMC executive health officer Dr Daksha Shah said tests are still being conducted at free or subsidised rates for patients visiting BMC healthcare centres and hospitals. Regarding reports of a few suburban hospitals lacking the quick-test Elisa kits used for the detection of various diseases, including dengue, an official said: "Even if there is a shortage of Elisa kits, hospitals can collect blood samples and send them for testing at our lab in Kasturba Hospital.
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