NMMC standing committee chairman Sandeep Naik keeps his word-gets 10% reservation policy for the poor at fortis Hiranandani approved in NMMC

NMMC Standing Chairman Sandeep Naik kept his word by bringing the 10% reservation policy for the poor at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital for discussion at a special general body meeting. The proposal was approved after healthy discussions and suggestions.

It’s June 10 and the 10% reservation policy for the poor at Fortis Hiranandani is now in place. That’s the difference that young leaders like NMMC Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik are making everyday in politics. True to the word that he gave to NMTV News last week, Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik himself brought the 10% reservation policy for the poor at Fortis Hiranandani Hospital. The proposal was brought in a special general body meeting convened at the NMMC HQ. After an hour long debate and discussions, corporators from all parties gave their objections and suggestions following, which the proposal was approved by the house. Addressing the house at the general body meeting, Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik said that he regretted the delay that has already happened in having the 10% policy in place. However, he appreciated the participation of all the members present during the special general body meeting convened for it.

Making another significant point Chairman Sandeep Naik said that since this tie up is a first-of-its-kind in India, there could be lacunae that will surface only after the policy is implemented that is why the policy should be brought back for further discussions if needed. He said that a three month audit of the record of patients being treated should be brought before the general body and standing committee. Since the policy pertained to super specialty services, Sandeep Naik said that expense of operations would be as high as consumables and if citizens have to pay in lakhs for consumables, it beats the very purpose of the tie up so there was an urgent need to fix rates of the consumables at par with charitable trust hospitals in the city. He said that studying the affordable medical services being provided by Dr. D Y Patil Hospital was the ideal thing to do.

after the meet, Sandeep Naik reiterated the same and hinted at how the administration has been misguiding them. He said that in the meet he has laid stress upon having rates fixed on consumables. He said that the three months auditing of the implementation of the policy will help them maintain transparency.

Chairman Sandeep Naik said that since the 10% policy is the right of the public it should be open to amendments and changes as and when required. Getting this proposal approved would not have been possible but for the efforts of Chairman Sandeep Naik because clearly there was reluctance and negligence on part of the NMMC administration. Even members did not hide their disapproval of the delay that the administration had shown in bringing the proposal while acknowledging Sandeep Naik’s initiative.

Ask him about how corporators across political parties was giving him credit for getting the 10% reservation policy for the poor at Fortis Hiranandani in place and a humble Sandeep Naik choose to thank his colleagues instead. It is very rare that when people are in power they choose to do justice to the cause and in the interest of the weak and the poor. The initiative of Sandeep Naik despite reluctance of NMMC administration to implement the policy is worth appreciating.