To maintain hygiene in Sion Hospital, Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) has directed the state government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to outsource the services to hospital management agencies. The move came after lack of cleanliness and poor hygiene at the hospital came to the notice of the human rights commission.

According to a recent order of SHRC, the commission had learnt that due to various technical problems last year, management of Sion Hospital could not provide prompt hygienic services to a fleet of patients.

"According to reports, the hospital management failed to provide clean bed sheets and gowns to its indoor patients. The said problem seems to be germinating from administrative procedural hassles. The achievement of a strengthened public health system, which is more accountable to ordinary citizens, is a potentially achievable goal to fight for within the existing system. Similarly, the health movement must lend it strength and voice to movements for improving health-related entitlements such as nutritional services and food security, clean drinking water, sanitation and safer environment and working conditions, which may be achieved to a certain extent," said MSHRC's acting chairperson, MA Sayeed.

In its order to the principal secretary of health department, Municipal Commissioner and Dean of Sion Hospital, the Commission has recommended streamlining the running and functioning of the hospital by primarily focusing on its hygiene condition and a proper system for ensuring supply of the clean bed sheets, gowns to the indoor patients.

"Transparent, speedy system for processing the tender process for the laundry should be evolved by curtailing the procedural niceties/administrative approvals at different levels and stages which results in a shortage of the linens, bedsheets, gowns etc. This would also apply to the other requisite logistics required for providing basic facilities, amenities to the patients, visitors," the order stated.

It further stated, maintenance of the hospital premises should be outsourced by engaging the services of the hospital management agencies so as to maintain hygieneat the hospital.

"A committee of the higher grade hospital officers should be constituted to monitor and supervise the functioning of the hospitals on the day-to-day basis including keeping vigilance on the finances, expenditures and to earmark yearly budget, thereby ensuring rendering of standard services by such hospitals," the order concluded.

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The order stated that a committee should be constituted to monitor and supervise the functioning of hospitals on day-to-day basis including keeping vigilance on the finances, expenditures and thereby ensure the standard of services being rendered