Archive · 27 Aug 2026
Rajawadi Hospital Faces Doctor Shortage Amid Mumbai Patient Surge
Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai does not have enough doctors in its Medicine Department.
A hospital official said the department is short of about 30% of its doctors.
One doctor may have to care for hundreds of patients in one shift.
The hospital treats thousands of outpatients and admits many people every day.
Patient numbers can rise during the monsoon because illnesses such as dengue and malaria become more common.
Pravin Chheda asked officials to send more doctors to the hospital.
He said doctors being on leave at the same time was causing long queues and extra pressure.
The hospital also reported that three newborns died on the same day, but its medical superintendent did not comment.
Rajawadi Hospital’s Medicine Department reportedly has a 30% doctor shortage.
A single Resident Medical Officer allegedly handled 400–500 patients per shift, and up to 800 on one Sunday.
Former BMC Leader of Opposition Pravin Chheda urged immediate deployment of additional doctors.
The hospital sees about 2,500–3,000 daily OPD patients and admits around 125 patients daily.
The deaths of three newborns in one day have prompted concerns about neonatal care and hospital administration.
- Who
- Rajawadi Hospital staff, former BMC Leader of Opposition Pravin Chheda, hospital superintendent Dr Bharti Rajulwar, and patients using the facility.
- What
- Rajawadi Hospital is facing a reported 30% shortage of doctors in its Medicine Department, while concerns have also been raised after three newborn deaths in one day.
- When
- The shortage was reported on August 27, 2026; the newborn deaths were reported on the preceding Wednesday, with a confrontation occurring on Thursday.
- Where
- Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, Mumbai.
- Why
- Multiple doctors were reportedly on leave while patient numbers increased during the monsoon, contributing to long queues and heavier workloads.
Critics and Patient-Care Concerns
Hospital Administration’s Position
Cause of long queues
Critics and Patient-Care Concerns
Pravin Chheda attributed the delays and pressure to mismanagement, arguing that multiple doctors should not have been allowed to remain on leave simultaneously.
Hospital Administration’s Position
Hospital superintendent Dr Bharti Rajulwar reportedly said multiple doctors were on leave, which was why long queues had formed.
Need for additional staff
Critics and Patient-Care Concerns
Chheda called for urgent deployment of additional Resident Medical Officers to protect patient care and ensure uninterrupted services.
Hospital Administration’s Position
A hospital administrative official acknowledged the department’s approximately 30% doctor shortage and said rising monsoon patient numbers were increasing the workload on existing doctors.
Newborn deaths
Critics and Patient-Care Concerns
The deaths of three newborns in one day led to concerns about neonatal care, available facilities and the administration’s functioning.
Hospital Administration’s Position
Medical Superintendent Dr Rajulwala declined to comment on the newborn deaths.
- Reported doctor shortage
- Around 30% in the Medicine Department
- Patients per RMO shift
- Approximately 400–500 patients; as many as 800 on a recent Sunday
- Daily OPD footfall
- Around 2,500–3,000 patients
- Daily IPD admissions
- Around 125 patients
- Hospital capacity
- 596 beds, including 11 ICU beds, 20 NICU beds, 10 trauma beds and six dialysis stations
- Requested action
- Immediate deployment of additional Resident Medical Officers
- Additional concern
- Three newborns reportedly died at the hospital on a single day