Borivali's Thalassemia Centre faces privatisation amid fierce opposition from leaders

The Comprehensive Thalassemia Care Centre in Borivali (East) faces potential privatisation, sparking strong opposition from local leaders. Kishori Pednekar, Leader of Opposition in the BMC, has raised concerns about the impact on patient care and affordability. The centre, a 58-bed facility with an eight-bed bone marrow transplantation (BMT) unit, has treated thousands of children since opening in 2017. Established by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) in April 2017, the centre became the first multi-bedded BMT facility of international standards in the public sector. It specialises in treating children with serious illnesses, including thalassemia, and has performed 440 transplants between 2018 and 2025.

Pednekar visited the centre and criticised the BMC’s privatisation plans. She warned that such a move could reduce access to free medical services and harm the centre’s reputation. Instead, she proposed exploring Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding or public-private partnerships as alternatives. The opposition leader also demanded a white paper from the BMC, detailing public health spending during the administrative rule. She insisted that all treatments at the centre must remain free, ensuring children from low-income families continue to receive life-saving care.

The centre’s future remains uncertain as debates over privatisation continue. If changes proceed, they could alter how children with serious illnesses access treatment in Mumbai. Pednekar’s demands for transparency and free services highlight the ongoing tensions between cost-cutting measures and public healthcare needs.