In good news for Mumbaikars, the Western Railway (WR) is planning to open its first Rs 1 clinic at Grant Road station on May 7.
According to the Hindustan Times, there are talks to extend the services to multiple stations on the WR in the coming months. Dr Rahul Ghule, chief operating officer of the project, told the leading daily, “We are in the process of starting centers at Mahim and Palghar. We will get a confirmation by May 10. At some of the centers, we have also started offering pathological diagnosis and pharmacy services at half the market rates.”
The Central Railway (CR) launched Rs 1 clinic at 11 stations, through which more than 80,000 patients have been treated so far. Currently, the clinics are operational at Dadar, Sion, Kurla, Chembur, Bhandup, Kalwa, Thane, Dombivli, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar and Titwala on the CR. These clinics, besides checking blood pressure and providing first aid, offer complete blood tests as well as ECG, CT scan, X-ray, MRI and sonography at lower-than-market rates.
Around 150 MBBS doctors and 300 support staff are attached to these clinics. Dr Ghule told the leading daily, “We attend to more than eight to 10 emergency cases, which need MRI and X-rays, daily. At least 50-60 patients undergo check-ups and blood tests for general diagnosis daily.”
