{
  "id": 15914352,
  "title": "BMC Health Committee Chairman Seeks Stay On KEM Hospital Medical Store's 5-Year Contract Extension, Alleges Irregularities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/bmc-health-committee-chairman-seeks-stay-on-kem-hospital-medical",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T15:56:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bmc-health-committee-chairman-seeks-stay-on-kem-hospital-medical-stores-5-year-contract-extension-alleges-irregularities"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's Health Committee chairman, Harish Bhandirge, has requested a delay on the proposal to prolong M/s The Parel Chemist's contract at KEM Hospital's medical store for an additional five years. Bhandirge has raised concerns about potential irregularities and questioned why new tenders were not issued. He urged the municipal administration to either cancel the proposal or put it on hold while an inquiry committee investigates the matter. The contract extension, which is set to be presented to the BMC’s Improvement Committee on October 22, would extend the agreement from August 20, 2026, to August 19, 2031. The contract rationale includes the contractor's satisfactory performance, round-the-clock service, and a 12.5% discount on printed medicine prices for patients. The 29-square-metre space will be compensated at Rs 2.20 lakh per month in the first year, with a 10% yearly increase. However, Bhandirge has pointed out that space at KEM Hospital has already been designated for a generic medicine shop to be run by NACOF India Ltd, which has been allocated space for establishing 50 generic medicine outlets in BMC hospitals. He has also sent a reminder to Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health) Sharad Ughade to expedite the process for opening the generic medicine shop. The chairman questioned the logic behind extending the existing operator's contract when the new outlet is being planned, as it could involve significant irregularities. Bhandirge criticized the administration for not taking note of the correspondence regarding generic medicines, emphasizing that the issue extends beyond being ignored by elected representatives to encompass the well-being of Mumbai citizens.",
  "summary": "Mumbai: Standing Committee member and BMC Health Committee chairman Harish Bhandirge has sought a stay on the proposal to extend the contract of M/s The Parel Chemist, which operates a medical store at KEM Hospital, for another five years, alleging possible irregularities and questioning why fresh tenders were not invited. Inquiry Into Proposal Demanded In a letter dated October 21 to Municipal…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}