BMC Promises Payment Resolution to Suppliers:
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has assured medicine and consumable suppliers that 50% of their pending payments, totaling ₹120 crore, will be cleared within two weeks. Following this commitment, more than 150 suppliers from the All Food and Drugs Licence Holder Foundation (AFDLHF) ended their protest and resumed the supply of essential medicines to civic hospitals. The suppliers had earlier announced a halt in supplies starting January 13 due to delayed payments.
Commitment to Clear Remaining Dues:
The BMC also pledged to settle the remaining dues by February 15, 2025. This decision came during a review meeting led by senior officials, including the Additional Municipal Commissioner (AMC-WS) and Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health).
Details of Outstanding Payments:
The overdue payments were broken down into:
₹20 crore owed by major civic hospitals.
₹5 crore pending under vigilance compliance.
₹35 crore linked to the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana (MJPJAY), a state health insurance scheme.
Urgent Action Outlined in Official Communication:
In a letter issued on Tuesday, the BMC acknowledged delays in processing payments and directed hospital deans and account officers to expedite the clearance of dues. The directive required 50% of the bills to be cleared within two weeks, with the remaining amount to be settled by February 15. The letter emphasized the importance of maintaining an uninterrupted supply of medicines to ensure patient care.
This decision offers much-needed support to our members, who have faced significant financial stress due to prolonged delays. We trust the BMC will follow through on this commitment and ensure such issues don’t occur again.Abhay Pandey, President of AFDLHF
Reactions from Key Stakeholders:
Relief Among Suppliers:
Abhay Pandey, President of AFDLHF, expressed relief over the BMC’s assurance. “This decision offers much-needed support to our members, who have faced significant financial stress due to prolonged delays. We trust the BMC will follow through on this commitment and ensure such issues don’t occur again,” he stated. Pandey also highlighted that many suppliers had taken loans to sustain their operations during the delay.
We have instructed all officials to expedite payment processing and to implement measures to prevent such delays in the future.Sanjay Kurhade, Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health)
Civic Body’s Response:
Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health) Sanjay Kurhade reaffirmed the BMC’s priority of maintaining patient care. “We have instructed all officials to expedite payment processing and to implement measures to prevent such delays in the future,” he said.
Supply Resumes After Temporary Halt:
AFDLHF, which had suspended the supply of medicines to 27 municipal hospitals, resumed operations on Tuesday at 11 a.m. after internal discussions among stakeholders. The foundation accepted the BMC’s proposal for partial payment but cautioned that the strike could resume if commitments were not met. “The letter from the BMC is reassuring. However, we will reconsider our decision if there is non-compliance,” Pandey warned.
“The letter from the BMC is reassuring. However, we will reconsider our decision if there is non-compliance,” Pandey warned.
Challenges and Long-Term Solutions:
While the immediate crisis has been addressed, suppliers emphasized the importance of systemic reforms to prevent recurring delays. Suggestions included:
Enforcing stricter financial protocols.
Streamlining the bill processing system to ensure timely payments.
Impact on Healthcare Services:
The resolution has ensured the continuity of medicine supplies, stabilizing operations at civic hospitals that were at risk of disruption.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)