Mumbai: BMC Standing Committee Sends Back Proposal To Scrap ₹5.53-Crore EUS Machine Procurement For KEM, Sion Hospitals

Mumbai's BMC Standing Committee rejected a proposal to cancel the procurement of two Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) machines for KEM and Sion hospitals due to opposition from cross-party corporators. The single bidder, Pentax Medical India Pvt. Ltd., was questioned for not being given a fair chance, with corporators warning that scrapping the process would prolong the wait for a crucial diagnostic facility and inconvenience patients.

The estimated cost for the two machines was Rs. 5.53 crore, covering installation, commissioning, a three-year warranty, and five-year comprehensive maintenance. Despite the single-bid tender, corporators pointed out that similar purchases of anaesthesia equipment and MRI machines had been made despite single bids. The cancellation of the EUS tender, corporators argued, could delay the process by another year, as patients, particularly those unable to afford private treatment, cannot afford to wait when timely diagnosis can save lives.