Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Commissioner Dr Kailas Shinde held a detailed review meeting with senior medical officials and directed the civic health department to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of healthcare services across the city.
The review focused on improving the quality of healthcare services being provided through NMMC-run primary urban health centres, maternity hospitals and public hospitals.
Regular evaluation of healthcare services stressed
During the meeting, the commissioner instructed officials to ensure continuous assessment of services right from primary urban health centres to public hospitals at the headquarters level.
NMMC currently provides medical examination and treatment services through 26 primary urban health centres across Navi Mumbai. The commissioner emphasised the need for maintaining accurate and updated health records collected from these centres and directed officials to regularly verify and review the data.
Focus on vaccination drives and public participation
The commissioner also reviewed ongoing vaccination programmes, health camps and screening initiatives conducted by the civic body.
Officials were instructed to improve outreach efforts so that a larger number of residents benefit from such programmes. Dr Shinde also suggested involving local corporators more actively in awareness and participation drives to improve public outreach.
Death audit and research-based healthcare planning highlighted
While reviewing birth and death statistics from the past three years, the commissioner directed officials to conduct detailed death audits and analyse causes of mortality more systematically.
He stated that studying patterns behind deaths could help improve treatment planning and contribute towards reducing mortality rates in the future. Stressing that healthcare is closely linked with research and analysis, the commissioner called for a stronger focus on evidence-based improvements in civic healthcare services.
Cancer screening and treatment programmes reviewed
The commissioner also reviewed cancer screening initiatives undertaken by NMMC and sought details regarding the number of screenings being conducted across categories.
Officials informed the meeting that patients identified through screening programmes are provided further treatment support through Tata ACTREC. The commissioner instructed the department to increase the scale of cancer screening activities across the city.
NFHS data analysis and expert task force proposed
The meeting also reviewed data collected under the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), including indicators related to maternal and child health, family planning, fertility and mortality rates.
Dr Shinde directed officials to analyse the collected data in greater detail and use the findings to improve healthcare planning and service delivery in Navi Mumbai.
He further suggested the creation of a task force comprising experienced specialist doctors from the city to support healthcare planning, comparative analysis and policy recommendations based on national-level health indicators.
Monthly review meetings to continue
The commissioner stated that review meetings of the health department would now be conducted on the first Monday of every month.
Officials were also directed to facilitate access to super-speciality treatment for economically weaker patients through schemes such as the Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana and other welfare programmes, including treatment support at private hospitals where applicable.
